The UK government has demanded that councils prove their progress on pothole repair, or face losing cash as a result.
From mid-April, local authorities in England will start to receive their share of £1.6bn highway maintenance funding, including an extra £500m to fill 7 million potholes a year.
But to get the full amount, all councils in England must publish annual progress reports. Local authorities who fail to meet these strict conditions will see 25% of the uplift (£125 million in total) withheld.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has unveiled £4.8bn funding for 2025 to 2026 for National Highways to deliver critical road schemes and maintain motorways and major A-roads.
It comes as figures from the RAC show drivers encounter an average of 6 potholes per mile in England and Wales, and pothole damage to cars costs an average of £600 to fix. According to the AA, fixing potholes is a priority for 96% of drivers.
Councils must now publish reports on their websites by 30 June 2025, detailing how much they are spending, how many potholes they have filled, what percentage of their roads are in what condition, and how they are minimising streetworks disruption.
They will also be required to show how they are spending more on long-term preventative maintenance programmes and that they have robust plans for the wetter winters the country is experiencing – making potholes worse.
By the end of October, councils must also show they are ensuring communities have their say on what work they should be doing, and where.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:
“Not only are we investing an additional £4.8 billion to deliver vital road schemes and maintain major roads across the country to get Britain moving, next month we start handing councils a record £1.6 billion to repair roads and fill millions of potholes across the country.
“British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends with us. We’ve done our part by handing councils the cash and certainty they need – now it’s up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they’re delivering for their communities.”
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“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.”
Edmund King, AA president and member of the Pothole Partnership, said:
“Getting councils to show value for money before getting full funding is a big step in the right direction, as it will encourage a more concerted attack on the plague of potholes. At the same time, local authorities can share best practice, so others can learn what new innovations and planned maintenance techniques have worked for them.”
Graham Stapleton, Chief Executive Officer, Halfords, said:
“Potholes are not just a nuisance, they are a safety hazard. Every day we see vehicles in our garages with damaged tyres and problems with suspension and wheel alignment caused by potholes. We’ve been calling for action on the quality of road surfaces for a long time and we warmly welcome the government’s pothole plan.”
Caroline Julian, Brand and Engagement Director at British Cycling and member of the Pothole Partnership, said:
“Cycling is critical to tackling the nation’s economic, social and health inequalities, but the poor condition of our roads prevents thousands of people from choosing to take to the saddle. Potholes also pose a significant danger to anyone choosing to travel by bike, often leading to injuries – and at worst, fatalities. Providing more opportunities for government to learn, adapt and grow the support they give local councils to repair and improve conditions on our roads is a positive move.”
Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said:
“We’ve been calling for local authorities to make public their plans for road maintenance to make sure funds aren’t absorbed into other funding pots. This new requirement to publish progress reports is a big step to give reassurance that money allocated to tackle potholes is used to do just that.”
Jonathan Walker, Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy, Logistics UK, said:
“Logistics businesses have been hampered by the delays and costs of vehicle damage caused by the UK’s crumbling roads network for some time, so news that this funding is to be released for local authorities will be welcomed by our members, whose work keeps the economy supplied with all that businesses, homes, hospitals and schools need.”
Craig Carey-Clinch, Executive Director National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), said:
“The NMC welcomes this announcement as a very positive step forward curing the pothole plague. Progress reporting is a key part of the solution. Potholes and road surface defects are extremely hazardous for motorcycle riders. The same pothole that can damage a car, could have a far more serious consequence for a motorcyclist or cyclist.”
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy and Standard, IAM RoadSmart, said:
“It is welcome to see a requirement for a greater level of transparency from local highway authorities that not only focuses on the number of potholes repaired but also the quality of the maintenance carried out. We believe this should help create smoother and safer journeys.”
Simon Williams, Head of Policy, RAC, said:
“Drivers are desperate to see an improvement in the quality of their local roads and a reduction in the number of potholes. Linking the release of additional funding to councils informing drivers on the progress they’re making to fix the roads should mean that the record level of government funding is used in the best possible way.”
Toby Poston, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Chief Executive, said:
“Potholes are a national blight that present a major risk to road user safety, productivity and affordability. Public budgets are tight and it is great to see an initiative that will help focus much-needed maintenance investment and highlight which authorities are being negligent.”
National Highways Chief Executive, Nick Harris, said:
“We welcome today’s announcement. This interim settlement allows us to continue connecting the country safely and reliably. Our motorways and A roads are vital for economic growth, connecting cities and regions, supporting businesses, and enabling new housing and infrastructure projects.”
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