The public will now see exactly what’s being done to tackle potholes, as the government demands councils prove their progress or face losing cash.
From mid-April, local authorities in England will start to receive their share of the government’s record £1.6 billion highway maintenance funding, including an extra £500 million – enough to fill 7 million potholes a year.
To receive the full amount, councils must publish annual progress reports and prove public confidence in their work. Local authorities failing to meet these conditions will see 25% of the uplift (£125 million in total) withheld.
The Transport Secretary has unveiled £4.8 billion funding for 2025/6 for National Highways to deliver critical road schemes and maintain motorways and major A-roads. This funding will support pivotal construction schemes, such as the A428 Black Cat scheme in Cambridgeshire, and vital improvements to the A47 around Norwich and M3 J9 scheme in Hampshire.
Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, said:
“After years of neglect we’re tackling the pothole plague, building vital roads and ensuring every penny is delivering results for the taxpayer.
“The public deserves to know how their councils are improving their local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing 25% of their £500 million funding boost.
“Our Plan for Change is reversing a decade of decline and mending our pothole-ridden roads which damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe.”
Figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of 6 potholes per mile in England and Wales, with pothole damage costing an average £600 to fix. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96% of drivers.
The government is delivering its Plan for Change to rebuild Britain through investment in vital infrastructure, driving growth and saving repair costs for working people. Councils must publish reports by 30 June 2025, detailing spending, pothole repairs, road conditions, and minimising streetworks disruption.
By the end of October, councils must ensure communities have their say on work priorities. The public can report potholes via a dedicated online portal.
To protect motorists amid cost-of-living pressures, the government has frozen fuel duty at current levels for another year, saving the average car driver £59.
The £4.8 billion for National Highways includes £1.3 billion for network repairs, £1.8 billion for daily operations, and £1.3 billion for improvement schemes to unlock growth and housing.
Image credit: iStock
