Comment from AIA following Chancellor’s November 26 budget

“With the backlog of local road repairs currently at an all-time high of £16.8*bn, and less than half the local road network currently in a good state of structural repair, it was heartening to hear the Chancellor announce that the Government intends to double local road maintenance funding by 2029-30.
“Investing in our local roads will not only help deliver better conditions for the benefit of all road users, but will also help support the Chancellor’s growth ambitions – with DfT research highlighting that every additional £1 spent on road maintenance results in a return on investment of between £2 and £9**
“We have long advocated for substantial, sustained, and targeted funding for highways maintenance so that local authority highway teams can plan ahead and deliver lasting improvements, rather than having to use the funds to repeatedly fill potholes. We look forward to understanding more about how additional funds will be allocated for the most effective delivery and benefit and hope it means the end of the pothole patch and mend cycle that has characterised our local roads for far too long.”

David Giles AIA Chair

* ALARM survey reports 2016-2025
** DfT’s 2024 ‘Economic appraisal for investing in local highway maintenance’