Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria local highway authorities must meet to access the 25% incentive element of the additional highways maintenance funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024; and when those criteria will be communicated to authorities that have not yet received them.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
To access the 25% incentive element of the £500m additional highways maintenance funding for 2025 to 2026 announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, local highway authorities were required to publish a report demonstrating how they comply with best practice in highways maintenance. The full requirements were detailed in a letter from the Department, which is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highway-maintenance-funding-guidance-for-local-authorities/letter-to-local-authorities-about-local-highway-maintenance-funding-in-2025-to-2026.
Authorities were sent letters in December 2025 confirming whether they had met those requirements, with funding allocations updated on gov.uk accordingly.
The incentive requirements for 2026 to 2027 were communicated to local authorities in April 2026, and are published online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highway-maintenance-funding-guidance-for-local-authorities/letter-to-local-authorities-about-local-highway-maintenance-funding-in-2026-to-2027.
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