Nottinghamshire County Council Publishes Highways Review with Key Recommendations

Nottinghamshire County Council has published the findings of its latest highways review, following the Cabinet’s decision in June 2025 to reassess how the county’s road network is managed.

The review comes amid a period of heightened concern over road maintenance nationally, with the UK facing a £17 billion backlog in road repairs. Nottinghamshire faces similar challenges, managing 2,760 miles of highway, 96,000 streetlights, 369 bridges, 141,000 drainage assets, and more than 45,000 highway trees.

In 2025, the council completed 77 miles of road repairs, including 60 miles of surface dressing, as part of a £52 million capital maintenance programme and £20 million in revenue funding invested in the network.

Recommendations Focus on Four Key Themes

The review makes recommendations across four key areas:

1. Securing Funding – Nottinghamshire relies on the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which contributed £44.7 million of the council’s £52.4 million highways capital funding in 2025–26. The council is working with EMCCA to secure multi-year funding to support improved planning and delivery.

2. Managing Assets – Preventative maintenance remains a priority, including surface dressing to stop potholes forming. The council will continue its “right repair, right first time” approach, minimising temporary fixes and using a ‘whole street’ repair model wherever possible to reduce disruption.

3. Delivering Services Efficiently – Partner Via East Midlands continues to exceed performance targets while supporting local supply chains and social value initiatives. Innovation, including AI-supported asset management technology, has doubled patching output per gang. A £4.68 million depot upgrade is also underway to improve staff welfare and operational resilience.

4. Improving Communications and Community Involvement – The review calls for more localised updates, a customer-friendly Highways Plan, and a new Customer Service Strategy. Community-led initiatives such as the Lengthsman Programme and Traffic Management Revenue Programme are praised, with recommendations for expanded funding and scope.

   
   

Council Response

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said:

“This review has highlighted that we have made a good start on highways, with strong levels of resurfacing delivered in 2025. The recommendations will build on past work and strengthen our relationship with EMCCA to secure future funding.

“Our highway network is vast and includes far more than just roads and pavements. There is a significant backlog nationally, and we are committed to making real improvements for our residents and road users. The Cabinet Member Working Group will meet quarterly to oversee delivery and ensure progress is maintained.”

The review sets out a roadmap for improving asset management, operational efficiency, and community engagement, while emphasising the need for sustainable funding and preventative maintenance across Nottinghamshire’s highways network.