Holcim UK Backs Low-Carbon Road Trials in the West Midlands

Holcim UK is playing a central role in a pioneering road decarbonisation project in the West Midlands, bringing forward its latest low-carbon asphalt technologies to help transform how roads are resurfaced across the country.

Working with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Coventry City Council, Holcim has been tasked with delivering innovative resurfacing solutions alongside partners Balfour Beatty and Macdonald Surfacing. The initiative is designed to test and compare emerging low-carbon materials with traditional road surfacing techniques, gathering valuable data to shape future projects nationwide.

The Coventry trial is part of the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (CEDR), one of seven schemes within ADEPT’s Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads programme. Backed by a £30 million Department for Transport investment, Live Labs 2 runs until March 2026 and includes a five-year monitoring and evaluation phase to track long-term impact.

Holcim’s Asphalt division has been closely involved in tailoring solutions for the scheme, led by National Technical Manager Neil Leake and Regional Technical Manager Jason Broughton, who collaborated with contractors to identify the most sustainable materials for the roads being resurfaced.

Neil Leake said:

“This partnership with local authorities and industry partners shows how longevity, sustainability and innovation can be combined to benefit communities. We’ve delivered a durable, low-carbon road surface in the West Midlands while also testing technologies in real-world conditions. The insights we gain here will be vital as we work to support road improvement and decarbonisation across the UK.”

Mark Corbin, TfWM’s Director of Network Resilience, added:

“These trials underline our commitment to addressing the climate emergency by developing greener and more resilient road networks. By piloting these materials here in the West Midlands, we’re helping to shape a more sustainable transport system both locally and at a national scale.”