Roads: Floods
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many locations on the strategic road network have been identified by her Department as having significant flooding risks.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
Current National Highways data (up to 28 February 2026) shows that there are 1,418 sub-catchments containing locations that have a high-flood risk (out of a total of 10,873 sub-catchments along the Strategic Road Network).
Catchments are defined as a group of all the drainage systems and the adjacent land they drain between two geographical high points of the Strategic Road Network. Catchments are typically further divided into sub-catchments, such as one for each carriageway direction or junction.
National Highways operates a comprehensive road inspection and maintenance programme. Drainage assets are inspected and maintained in line with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Where flooding hotspots are identified, inspections are carried out more frequently, and improvements are considered.
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