Comment from AIA ahead of Chancellor’s November 26 budget

“The Chancellor is right, in her comments made today, that the stop-go nature of public funding has left our roads full of potholes. “It’s all too evident to local road users that an inconsistent approach to highways maintenance funding*, has led to a network in decline. So, it’s not surprising that ALARM data highlights that there are now 10,000 more miles of local road in structurally POOR condition (with five years or less of structural life remaining) than there were a decade ago.**. 

“In the Budget later this month, the Chancellor needs to give local highway engineers the
tools to do the job.  Substantial, sustained and targeted investment in local roads
maintenance is what’s needed to make lasting improvements. And, if this Government
is looking to kick start  growth, it makes sound investment sense too, with DfT backed
research stating that for every additional £1 spent on road maintenance results in a
return on investment of between £2 and £9”***. “

*The Public Accounts Committee January 2025 report Condition and maintenance of local roads in England’ states that government funding to local authorities over the last decade had varied between £1.1 and £1.6 billion per year.

** ALARM survey reports 2016-2025 

*** DfT’s 2024 ‘Economic appraisal for investing in local highway maintenance’