Hertfordshire Reviews Highways Supply Strategy Amid Rising Material Costs

Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed it is closely monitoring rising highways material costs and potential supply chain pressures linked to escalating tensions involving Iran, with concerns growing over the wider impact on infrastructure delivery and maintenance programmes.

The authority said precautionary measures have already been introduced, including bulk purchasing of key construction materials used across its highways network.

Concerns over fuel and material inflation

The issue was raised during a recent full council meeting after councillors questioned how global instability and rising oil prices could affect the county’s ability to maintain roads and deliver planned schemes.

Global oil prices have climbed sharply following the escalation of conflict involving Iran, increasing concerns across the infrastructure sector about the knock-on effects for fuel, asphalt production and wider construction supply chains.

Green Party councillor Ben Crystall asked whether the county had sufficient resilience in place to protect highways operations from future shortages or cost increases.

Council monitoring supply chain risks

Responding on behalf of the council, executive member for highways Stephen Giles-Medhurst acknowledged that the situation remains a concern not only for Hertfordshire but for highway authorities more broadly.

He said highways officers are continuing to monitor the market closely while taking steps to secure materials needed for planned works programmes.

The council confirmed that advance bulk purchasing has already been undertaken for some essential materials in order to reduce exposure to future price volatility and supply disruption.

No immediate impact on planned works

Despite the pressures affecting global supply markets, the council said current highways schemes and maintenance programmes have not yet been directly impacted.

However, Giles-Medhurst warned that prolonged instability or continued increases in material costs could eventually force changes to future delivery plans.

He highlighted concerns not only around asphalt supplies, but also the availability and cost of products such as:

• Steel girders

• Safety barriers and guard rails

• Street lighting columns

• Other key highway construction materials

Wider pressures facing local authorities

Local authorities across the UK are continuing to face growing challenges linked to inflation, supply chain instability and rising infrastructure maintenance costs.

Many councils are increasingly reviewing procurement strategies, stockpiling materials and prioritising preventative maintenance approaches as they seek to manage constrained budgets while maintaining ageing highway networks.

Hertfordshire County Council said it will continue reviewing the situation and provide further updates should the pressures begin affecting delivery of its highways programme.