The Government has announced £8.3 billion of extra funding, re-directed from HS2, to help improve local roads in England.
Local highway authorities across the country will receive £150 million this financial year, followed by a further £150 million in 2024/2025, with the rest allocated through to 2034.
The total amount is equivalent to resurfacing 5,000 miles of roads. Councils will be required to publish regular information on their websites explaining how they are spending the funding in their area.
The announcement is part of the Government’s Network North plan, which will see £36 billion invested in hundreds of transport projects and initiatives across the country, including the extension of the £2 bus fare cap in England to the end of next year and more than £1 billion to improve bus journeys in the North and the Midlands.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, LGA Transport Spokesperson, said: “Councils want to invest in cost-effective and resilient resurfacing, rather than retrospectively dealing with potholes. This funding is a significant boost towards improving more of the 186,000 miles of England’s local roads.
“The LGA has consistently called for longer-term funding to tackle our estimated £14 billion local roads repair backlog.
“This announcement will provide some much-needed clarity for councils on what they can expect to receive in the short term, so they can plan ahead and reinstate repairs that had been impacted by inflation.
“Longer-term, the Government should award council highways departments with five-yearly funding allocations, so they can develop resurfacing programmes and other highways improvements, tackling the scourge of potholes.”
