Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

Highways maintenance spending figures

The table below shows the capital funds allocated by Department of Transport each year, alongside both the capital and revenue spend.

The percentage spend on preventative maintenance is based on the amount spent on surface dressing, micro asphalt, resurfacing and retexturing treatments. These are treatments that are used to extend the life of the asset.

Reactive maintenance covers work that is needed to repair assets, such as filling potholes.

Spending on highways maintenance

 2024-252025-262026-27 (projected)
Spend on highways maintenance£27,703,392£31,717,067£41,655,064
Of which spent on:    
Carriageways£14,511,465£17,121,307£23,341,001
Footways

£0 capital spend,

defect repairs included within carriageway figure

£115,879 capital spend, 

defect repairs included within carriageway figure

£405,454 capital spend,

defect repairs included within carriageway figure

Structures (for example bridges or tunnels)£1,237,427£2,845,467£6,296,996
Drainage£2,480,909£2,979,818£2,632,903
Street lighting£5,824,766£4,220,780£3,451,362
Other assets£3,648,824£4,433,816£5,527,348

Where our funding comes from

Funding sources for highways maintenance2024-252025-262026-27 (projected)
Funding received through the Department for Transport / UK Government£9,828,300£19,818,970£24,392,000
Additional highways maintenance funding provided by the Council or third parties £11,758,890£11,923,843£8,500,840
Total£21,587,190£31,742,813£34,392,840

Last updated 25 August 2026