Additional highway maintenance works funded by UK Government
Additional highway maintenance works have been funded by UK Government and made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
Spring Budget 2023 funding
In the Spring Budget of 2023 the Government announced additional funding being made available to highway authorities to maintain and improve the local highway network.
The DfT advocates a risk based asset management approach to maintenance programmes to consider all parts of the network such as bridges, cycleways and lighting columns, not just filling of potholes.
From the national allocation of £200 million, BCP received £850.8 k in 2023/24
This enabled the following additional works to be programmed:
- Grouted Asphalt West Howe Roundabout £200k (completed)
- Resurfacing (Retread) at Jumpers Road, Clarence Park Road and £400k (in progress)
- Footway Maintenance – York Road £50k
- Bridge Maintenance – Re decking of Neacroft Bridge £100k
Network North funding
In October 2023 the Government announced £8.3 billion of additional highways maintenance funding over the period 2023 to 2024 and the next 10 years for local road resurfacing and wider maintenance activity on the local highway network.
Local highways maintenance: additional funding from 2023 to 2034 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
BCP received £604 k in 2023/24 and a further £604k in 2024/25. The overall allocation awarded (including these sums) is £18.903 million. We have not yet received details on how the remainder of the funds will be allocated.
The additional funding received for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years have enabled the below additional works to be programmed.
2023/24 £604k
Resurfacing (Retread)
- Canford Magna, 5357m2 (Merley & Bearwood)
- Howeth Road, 8604m2 (Winton & Wallisdown East)
- Guest Avenue, 3300m2 (Alderney & Bourne Valley)
This work is currently in progress.
Highway Drainage Improvements/Investigations
- Lymington Road
- Millhams Road
2024/25 £604k
Resurfacing (Retread) of Beaufort Avenue, 7260m2 (West Southbourne).
£350k will be allocated to the replacement and improvement of assets, surface repairs and drainage improvements identified through the Highway Safety Inspection Programme.
AI technology trial and future plans
We are trialling use of AI intelligence to help us detect highway problems and improve condition monitoring of the road surface, signs, lining and other highway features.
Once these have been assessed the technology may be incorporated into routine maintenance surveys and inspections.
How we avoid repeated works on the same road
We introduced a permit to work scheme in Sept 2020 to better control roughly 33,000 street works activities that are carried out each year. We've been able to get companies to co-operate and combine their works on many occasions. We've also issued Section 58 notices where appropriate - these prevent further planned work within a defined period.
Investment totals in the last 5 years and plans for 2024-25
The below figures show the total amount of investment in local highway networks over the last 5 years, as well as what is planned for 2024-25.
This has been split between local funding and funding received from the Department for Transport (DfT).
Figures below comprise Highway Maintenance needs based funding, Pothole Fund and Inventive Fund.
- 2019-20 - DfT £3,955,257, Local: none
- 2020-21 - DfT £10,774,000 (includes £4,185,000 Challenge Fund award), Local: £200,000
- 2021-22 - DfT £4,786,000, Local: none
- 2022-23 - DfT £4,786,000, Local: none
- 2023-24 - DfT £6,240,900, Local: none
- 2024-25 - DfT £5,390,000, Local: none