Local authorities in England and Wales now face a record £18.62 billion backlog of carriageway repairs that would take 12 years to clear, despite an increase in funding, reports this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey.
The ALARM survey report is produced by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). Now in its 31st year, it is widely respected throughout industry and local and national government as the most authoritative and comprehensive study into local road maintenance funding and conditions in England and Wales.
This year’s report shows that while additional investment from both central government and local authority’s own sources has led to a 17% increase in average highway maintenance budgets in England and Wales, only marginal improvements in conditions have been reported.
Around half (51%) of the local road network is reported to be in good structural condition, with 15 years or more life remaining, up 3% from last year.
However, almost one in six (16%) local roads – equivalent to over 32,500 miles – is reported to have less than five years’ structural life remaining.
David Giles, chair of the AIA, said: “I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace.
“Tracking ALARM data over the last decade shows the amount needed to bring local roads up to scratch has increased dramatically, and the impact of frequent adverse weather events on a consistently underfunded – and increasingly fragile – network are coming home to roost so road users should not expect a quick fix.”
Highway maintenance budgets in England and Wales for 2025-26 are reported to be an average £30.5 million per authority, with over half of that (54%) spent on the surface and structure of the road.
However, local authorities reported that the additional amount they would have needed for the last year to maintain the network to their target conditions has continued to rise. It now stands at £1.37 billion, up 10% on last year to an average of £8.1 million per authority, and likely to be compounded by the impacts of one of the wettest winters on record.
David Giles added: “The AIA has long advocated for substantial, sustained and targeted funding for highways maintenance so that local authority highway teams can plan ahead and deliver lasting improvements.
“It appears the Government has listened. It’s funding announcements for local highway maintenance in England, including £1.6 billion for this (2025/26) financial year – £500 million more than the previous year – plus its subsequent pledge to allocate £7.3 billion over the next four years, represent an important step forward.
“And, local authority highway engineers have told us they are cautiously optimistic that the increased funding announced by the Government, supplemented by their own coffers, should help them stem further decline. However, it is not the silver bullet that will enable them to clear the backlog of repairs any time soon.”
The ALARM survey reports local road funding and conditions in England and Wales based on information provided directly by those responsible for the maintenance of the network.
This year’s survey received responses from 79% of local authorities. Findings of ALARM 2026, which relate to the 2025/26 financial year, show that in England and Wales:
- Local authorities would have needed, on average, an extra £8.1 million each last year to maintain their network to their own target conditions and prevent further decline.
- £18.62 billion is now reported to be required, as a one-off, for local authorities to bring the network up to their ‘ideal’ conditions.
- If this backlog of repairs was cleared, the amount local authorities would need to maintain their roads in a steady state would be £1 billion less every year going forward: funds that could be usefully redeployed elsewhere.
- Just over 100,000 miles (49%) of the network is now reported to have less than 15 years’ structural life remaining. Data also shows that 20,400 miles (10%) of the network are likely to need some form of maintenance in the next 12 months. This is down 2% on last year’s figure, meaning there are around 4,000 fewer miles of road classed as RED.
- Roads are only resurfaced, on average, once every 97 years. 1.9 million potholes have been filled at a cost of £149.3 million.
Commenting on the ALARM report, AA president Edmund King OBE, said: “The ALARM 2026 report starkly warns us how much more needs to be done to eradicate this plague of potholes. We have been seeing with our own eyes, and feeling with our wheels, how record wet weather linked to substandard roads has led to many local roads becoming patchwork obstacle courses.
“The AA has been called out to 137,000 pothole-related incidents in the UK in January and February this year – 25,000 up on last year. Extra funding needs to be maintained and spent on more permanent repairs to prevent extensive vehicle damage and potentially fatal injuries to those on two wheels.”
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