Labour has announced a major overhaul to UK roads with the Government pledging billions to help tackle the growing pothole crisis.
Local authorities across England will begin receiving their share of the £1.6billion funding from mid-April, including an extra £500million, to fill approximately seven million potholes annually.
In a move to ensure accountability, councils will now be forced to publish annual progress reports demonstrating their road maintenance achievements.
Under the new plans, councils that fail to meet these transparency requirements risk losing 25 per cent of their funding uplift, equivalent to £125million in total.
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The initiative forms part of the Government's broader Plan for Change to rebuild Britain's infrastructure and prevent costly repairs for drivers who have to deal with unnecessary damage to vehicles.
To access their full share, councils must publish annual progress reports from today (March 24). These reports must demonstrate public confidence in their road maintenance work.
According to RAC figures, drivers currently encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales. Pothole damage costs motorists an average of £600 per repair, highlighting the urgent need for this investment.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has also unveiled £4.8billion in funding for National Highways to help improve road schemes and maintain motorways and major A-roads across the country.
The funding will support projects already under construction, including the A428 Black Cat scheme in Cambridgeshire. It will also kickstart vital improvements to the A47 around Norwich and the M3 Junction 9 scheme in Hampshire.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The broken roads we inherited are not only risking lives but also cost working families, drivers and businesses hundreds if not thousands of pounds in avoidable vehicle repairs.
"Fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on is central to delivering national renewal, improving living standards and securing Britain's future through our Plan for Change."
He explained that councils will need to "get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they're delivering for their communities".
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained that the Government will be tackling the pothole plague, building vital roads and "ensuring every penny is delivering results for the taxpayer".
She added: "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 per cent of their £500million funding boost."
Alexander highlighted the Government's commitment to reversing what she described as "a decade of decline" and "mending our pothole-ridden roads which damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe".
Councils must publish detailed reports on their websites by June 30, 2025, to demonstrate their progress. They must also detail the condition of their roads and how they are minimising streetworks disruption.
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By the end of October, councils must prove they are consulting with communities about prioritising road works. The public can assist by reporting potholes to their local council via a dedicated online portal.
Edmund King, AA president and member of the Pothole Partnership, welcomed the accountability measures: "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."
He added that local authorities can "share best practices, so others can learn what new innovations and planned maintenance techniques have worked for them".
Find Out More...
Local authorities across England will begin receiving their share of the £1.6billion funding from mid-April, including an extra £500million, to fill approximately seven million potholes annually.
In a move to ensure accountability, councils will now be forced to publish annual progress reports demonstrating their road maintenance achievements.
Under the new plans, councils that fail to meet these transparency requirements risk losing 25 per cent of their funding uplift, equivalent to £125million in total.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
The initiative forms part of the Government's broader Plan for Change to rebuild Britain's infrastructure and prevent costly repairs for drivers who have to deal with unnecessary damage to vehicles.
To access their full share, councils must publish annual progress reports from today (March 24). These reports must demonstrate public confidence in their road maintenance work.
According to RAC figures, drivers currently encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales. Pothole damage costs motorists an average of £600 per repair, highlighting the urgent need for this investment.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has also unveiled £4.8billion in funding for National Highways to help improve road schemes and maintain motorways and major A-roads across the country.
The funding will support projects already under construction, including the A428 Black Cat scheme in Cambridgeshire. It will also kickstart vital improvements to the A47 around Norwich and the M3 Junction 9 scheme in Hampshire.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The broken roads we inherited are not only risking lives but also cost working families, drivers and businesses hundreds if not thousands of pounds in avoidable vehicle repairs.
"Fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on is central to delivering national renewal, improving living standards and securing Britain's future through our Plan for Change."
He explained that councils will need to "get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they're delivering for their communities".
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained that the Government will be tackling the pothole plague, building vital roads and "ensuring every penny is delivering results for the taxpayer".
She added: "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 per cent of their £500million funding boost."
Alexander highlighted the Government's commitment to reversing what she described as "a decade of decline" and "mending our pothole-ridden roads which damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe".
Councils must publish detailed reports on their websites by June 30, 2025, to demonstrate their progress. They must also detail the condition of their roads and how they are minimising streetworks disruption.
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By the end of October, councils must prove they are consulting with communities about prioritising road works. The public can assist by reporting potholes to their local council via a dedicated online portal.
Edmund King, AA president and member of the Pothole Partnership, welcomed the accountability measures: "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."
He added that local authorities can "share best practices, so others can learn what new innovations and planned maintenance techniques have worked for them".
Find Out More...