Background
The local road network in England is essential to everyday travel. Almost all journeys start and end on the local road network, which consists of 184,000 miles of road and represents 98% of the total road network.
The Department for Transport (DfT) provides significant capital funding to local highways authorities for the maintenance of local roads. It provided £1.2 billion in 2024-25, increasing to up to £1.6 billion in 2026-27. In 2024, the NAO reported on The condition and maintenance of local roads in England. We found that DfT did not allocate its funding as effectively as possible or have a good enough understanding of the condition of local roads.
Scope
This study will assess DfT’s progress in supporting effective local roads maintenance since our 2024 report, including following up on how DfT has responded to previous recommendations. It will examine DfT’s:
- revised approach to providing funding to local authorities for the maintenance of roads and other highways assets
- understanding and monitoring of local road condition, including bridges and tunnels as well as road surface condition
- role in providing guidance to local authorities
NAO team
Director: Jenny George
Senior Audit Manager: Cvetina Yocheva