The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the extension of the ADEPT Live Labs 2 programme for an additional year, with up to £300,000 in total.
ADEPT’s Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK is a UK-wide £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport, aimed at decarbonising the local highways infrastructure network.
This extension will enable the Live Labs 2 programme to deliver a comprehensive Year 4 programme of communications and dissemination with a view to scaling and adoption by the sector; ensuring that the insights, evidence and innovations generated by the seven Live Labs 2 projects are shared widely across the sector.
The Live Labs 2 projects finishes on March 2026 with the exception of the Devon Live Lab which received a year’s extension due to delays.
A statement from DfT said:
“In further support for local authorities, the government will extend the Live Labs 2 programme for another year, providing up to £300,000 to help councils access and adopt more innovative approaches to maintenance, including uptake of longer-lasting, low-carbon materials for repairing roads faster, more efficiently and far less often.
“These materials can unlock savings for the taxpayer, lower emissions and reduce disruptive roadworks long-term to keep drivers moving.”
Angela Jones, President of ADEPT, said:
“We warmly welcome the announcement that ADEPT’s sector-leading Live Labs 2 programme has been extended for an additional year. This is a huge acknowledgement and an encouraging boost to the groundbreaking work being undertaken by each of the projects, supported by the independent Commissioning Board.
“One of the guiding principles of the Live Labs 2 programme has been that the information and resources generated by the seven participating projects will be widely shared and communicated across the sector.
“The extension of the programme for another year will focus on sharing best practice, ensuring that the insights and innovations developed through the programme are communicated across the sector to accelerate the adoption of new solutions and establish new ways of working.
“This includes the uptake of longer-lasting, low-carbon materials, allowing LHAs to repair roads more quickly and efficiently and far less often. As highlighted within the government’s statement, these materials can unlock savings for the taxpayer, lower emissions and reduce disruptive roadworks long-term to keep drivers moving.”
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