Local highways maintenance transparency report

The Department for Transport expects all local highways authorities to publish information about their highways maintenance activities, to help local taxpayers see the difference that funding is making in their areas.

Buckinghamshire Council, as the Highway Authority, is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the highway network within Buckinghamshire. The highway network is recognised as our most valuable asset in terms of both financial and socio-economic value, and we therefore have a duty to maintain it so that it can serve Buckinghamshire’s road users. We do not, however, maintain trunk roads or motorways which are the responsibility of National Highways.

As well as the key assets that comprise our network shown in the table above, Buckinghamshire Highways maintains a variety of assets that support the 3,186km of carriageway, including almost:

• 30,000 street lights
• 232 sets of traffic lights (including 134 pedestrian crossings)
• 707 bridge structures (including pedestrian subways and retaining walls)
• over 85,000 drainage assets and approximately 44,000 road signs (both illuminated and non-illuminated)

Notwithstanding, a range of additional assets such as grit bins, bollards, road markings, fencing, vehicle restraint systems (VRS) and green infrastructure (e.g. trees and grass verges).

Buckinghamshire Highways allocates funding across a range of maintenance activities to ensure the road network is well-maintained. The table below provides a breakdown of how this funding has been distributed between capital and revenue spending over the past five years, as well as the proportion invested in preventative and reactive maintenance.

Capital funding is used for long-term improvements and renewal of highway assets. These are typically larger, planned works that extend the life of the asset.

Examples include:

• major resurfacing, surface treatment or reconstruction of roads and footways
• replacement of street lighting columns
• structural repairs to bridges and retaining walls
• upgrades to existing drainage systems
• upgrades to traffic signals and signage
• road safety improvement schemes
• large-scale patching and plane and patching

Revenue funding, on the other hand, typically covers day-to-day maintenance and operational costs. These are generally smaller-scale or routine activities.

Examples include:

• routine and safety inspections
• gully cleaning and drainage maintenance
• grass cutting and tree maintenance
• street lighting and traffic signals repairs (e.g. bulb replacements) and energy costs
• routine maintenance of structures including inspections and minor works
• winter service operations (e.g. gritting and snow clearance)
• pothole repairs
• emergency and out of hours service
• maintenance of public rights of way
• cleaning and maintenance of signs and road markings

Buckinghamshire Council’s plan is to continue to invest in capital maintenance to improve roads, footways, and related highway assets.

Our capital spend is typically split according to the following proportions:

• 50% will be used to resurface roads – this includes laying new surfaces on roads that are worn out and potholing, as well as early intervention maintenance, such as surface dressing and micro surfacing
• 14% will be used for “plane and patch” work – this is smaller, targeted repairs to fix groups of potholes and damaged sections of road
• 9% will be used to maintain bridges, ensuring they stay safe and functional
• 8% is set aside for rebuilding roads that are in very poor condition
• 7% will be used to improve drainage systems, helping to prevent flooding and water damage to roads and properties
• 5% is for fixing footways (pavements), making them safer for pedestrians
• 4% will go toward road safety improvements, like better signage or safer junctions and pedestrian crossing points
• 3% is for repairing and replacing streetlights and traffic signals, keeping roads well-lit and safe at night

Historically the budgets allocated each year have typically allowed us to:

• complete approximately 200 carriageway schemes relaying 120km of road surface
• replace over 400 streetlights plus many other minor repairs
• implement around 11 major capital drainage improvement schemes
• carry out approximately 10km of footway reconstruction

The table above illustrates the proportion of the budget allocated to preventative maintenance or reactive maintenance in recent years. The value for reactive maintenance includes activities where the repairs or activities are as a response to issues which are unplanned (for example, repairing a pothole which has been reported, gritting our roads in periods of bad weather or responding to incidents on the network). Activities which are planned and can prevent the need for a reactive response are included in preventative maintenance. This might include carriageway surfacing or large scale patching, routine activities such as gulley emptying and fixed costs such as streetlighting energy.

Part of our capital budgets are also spent on early intervention maintenance where we can act before a road has failed. This might include activities such as surface dressing a road. We have consistently invested around £7 million annually in this form of maintenance, reflecting its commitment to prolonging the life of the network and reducing the need for more costly repairs in the future.

One of the biggest concerns road users express within stakeholder satisfaction surveys, often relates to potholes. Buckinghamshire Highways undertakes both preventative and reactive maintenance interventions annually to tackle pothole damage. Further information on how we identify and define potholes is given in our Highway Inspection Policy.

We also carry out spray injection patching to treat a number of road defects. The table below shows the number of defects repaired each year using this treatment. Note that these are in addition to figures in the table above. The council is pleased to see the number of potholes reducing in 2024/25 which, although in part are due to less severe weather, is also a result of increased levels of investment in our roads and an increased emphasis on preventative maintenance.

The following work was completed during 2024/25:

• surface dressing: 220,000 m² (equivalent to 31 football pitches)
• micro surfacing: 40,000 m² (almost 6 football pitches)
• resurfacing: 229,000 m² (32 football pitches)
• reconstruction: 56,089 m² (almost 8 football pitches)
• plane and patch: 147,000 m² (almost 21 football pitches)

Road condition data for all local authority classified roads, is currently collected using Surface Condition Assessment for the National Network of Roads (SCANNER) machine surveys, employing laser-based technology.

A number of parameters measured in these surveys are used to produce a road condition indicator which is categorised into three condition categories:

• green – no further investigation or treatment required
• amber – maintenance may be required soon
• red – should be considered for maintenance

Data on the condition of our A roads is collected on an annual basis in one direction (for example, over a 2-year period we obtain condition data on the full coverage of the network in both directions).

Data on the condition of our B and C roads is also collected on an annual basis in one direction (for example, over a 2-year period we obtain condition data on the full coverage of the network in both directions).

Up until 2024, road condition data for unclassified roads in England was collected every other year using Coarse Visual Inspections (CVI). These surveys were undertaken by accredited inspectors to categorise coarse condition, to identify a single condition band for unclassified roads.

From 2026/27 a new condition inspection methodology will be used based on the BSI PAS2161 standard. Local Highway Authorities will be required to use a supplier that has been accredited against PAS2161. This new standard will categorise roads into 5 categories instead of 3, to help the government gain a more detailed understanding of road condition in England.

We have consistently monitored the condition of our road network over many years. The five-year data table presented above indicates a general improvement in the condition of A roads, while progress on B, C, and unclassified roads has slowed. This is partly attributable to external pressures, including global inflation and the sustained impact of heavy construction traffic linked to HS2 and East West Rail (EWR) projects.

However, when viewed over a longer timeframe, the overall condition of the network has improved across all road categories. Notably, the proportion of roads in the poorest condition (the 'red' category) has reduced by approximately one-third compared to 12 years ago. This long-term improvement reflects our sustained investment in highway infrastructure.

Benchmarking against neighbouring and comparable authorities shows that Buckinghamshire faces similar challenges and maintains a road network in broadly comparable condition. This reinforces the view that while recent pressures have constrained short-term progress, our strategic investment approach has delivered measurable long-term benefits.

Our highways are our most valuable asset with a replacement cost in the order of £4.6 billion. Our approach is set out in our approved Asset Management Policy and Strategy. These documents set out how we take a rigorous, data-driven approach to understanding the condition and needs of the highways network and how we use that data to inform our decision making. Each year we review our budgets and determine how best to allocate them to achieve our asset management objectives.

For our primary assets such as bridges, footways, street lighting and traffic signals, our budgets have been set to maintain the current conditions and to target specific improvements. Our approach to carriageways (the largest and most visible asset) in recent years has been to try to maintain a steady state condition on our main roads and to allocate a larger proportion of any additional funding to minor roads, as they are already in a poorer condition than our main roads. This strategy has been broadly successful, with classified roads remaining stable and unclassified roads improving by 10% (165km) due to the increased investment under the strategy. This year we are looking to invest a further £7 million in our main roads to improve their condition and to allow for increased investment into preventative maintenance in future years, to keep them in their improved condition.

Each year a proportion of our budget is allocated between resurfacing works and preventative maintenance schemes such as surface dressing which, when used at the right time, can extend the life of a road surface at a fraction of the cost of resurfacing. A proportion of the budget is allocated to our main roads and the remainder to our local roads. Other elements of budget are used for plane and patch works which are targeted at shorter sections of deterioration on a road, and on a failed road programme to target those roads which have regrettably fallen to an unacceptable condition. We work with local members and local area technicians to develop this rolling four-year programme of works to ensure that both strategic and local priorities are addressed. This balanced approach has proven to be the best long-term solution for the county when compared to either resurfacing only or a heavier spend on preventative maintenance.

Our asset management approach is grounded in nationally recognised best practice, drawing on the 14 recommendations of the Highway Maintenance Efficiency Programme’s “Asset Management Guidance” (2013) and the 36 recommendations set out in the UK Roads Liaison Group’s “Well-managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice” (2016). These frameworks promote timely, preventative interventions to ensure the sustainable use of resources and long-term value for money. The service also aligns its practices with the principles of ISO 55001, the international standard for asset management. Buckinghamshire Highways continues to embed ISO 55001 principles in its operations and is actively working towards reaccreditation - demonstrating its commitment to structured, transparent, and forward-looking asset management.

We have been successful over recent years in securing all available funding from the DfT, having been placed in the highest banding of the relevant assessment and receiving an award from the Institute of Asset Management for how we engage with members to develop our capital programme.

We work closely with neighbouring authorities through the Midlands Highways Alliance (MHA+) and are also an active member of the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) and Future Highways Research Group (FHRG). These groups provide the opportunity to share innovations and best practice asset management across several authorities and allow us to stay informed on emerging technologies in the sector.

Buckinghamshire Highways embraces new ideas through its dedicated Innovation Board and close collaboration with its suppliers, term contractor (Balfour Beatty Living Places) and consultant (AtkinsRéalis). This collaborative approach has supported the adoption of best practice, driven innovation, and enabled more efficient, data-led decision-making across the highway network.

Overall, in recent years our innovation efforts have seen the development of artificial intelligence for automating administrative tasks and to collect data on our network; technology resources and database developments; integrated process/material innovation trials.

In 2025/26, Buckinghamshire Highways will deliver a wide-ranging programme of maintenance and improvement works across the county’s road network. This includes a balanced mix of resurfacing and replacement works, early intervention preventative treatments - designed to extend the life of roads and reduce future repair needs - and reactive repairs to address immediate issues such as potholes. The planned activities will benefit all parts of the network, from major A roads to local residential streets, and includes carriageway resurfacing, footway improvements, drainage upgrades, and structural repairs.

While delivery of the annual programme is already underway, it is subject to change due to factors such as weather conditions, coordination with other works, material and resource availability of our supply chain, and cost fluctuations. The list below outlines the estimated scale and type of works planned for the year, helping to provide a clearer picture of how investment will be used to maintain and improve the network.

Planning for this programme of work is carried out in consultation with elected ward members through close collaboration. Over each of our four-year rolling programmes, we strive to ensure equitable distribution of work across all 49 wards in Buckinghamshire.

• 207 carriageway schemes
  • 83 resurfacing and reconstruction schemes* – covering approximately 60km of road
  • 42 surface dressing schemes (including prep sites) - covering approximately 42km of road
  • 55 plane and patch schemes* – covering approximately 40km of road**
  • 27 micro surfacing schemes including prep sites) - covering approximately 11km of road
  • total approximate coverage = 184km
• 27 footway schemes*
• 10 traffic signal schemes
• 11 street lighting schemes including replacing approximately 250 columns, 450 lanterns and 200 traffic islands.
• 32 drainage improvement schemes
• 12 bridge schemes
• 29 road lining refresh schemes

Buckinghamshire Council recognises the essential role of streetworks in maintaining and upgrading roads and vital utilities such as gas, water, and electricity. While these works can be disruptive, we are committed to minimising their impact on residents, road users, and the wider community through a robust and proactive management approach.

At the heart of this approach, is the government-approved Permit Scheme, which coordinates all roadworks, including private licence applications. The scheme allows the council to set restrictions on work durations, enforce compliance, and penalise those who overstay or breach conditions. These rules apply equally to utility companies and the council’s own works.

The objectives of this approach are to:

• reduce disruption on the network
• improve overall network management
• reduce delays to the travelling public
• reduce costs to businesses caused by delays
• promote a safer environment
• reduce carbon emission

The Buckinghamshire Council Permit Scheme has been in operation for 5 years. In 2024/2025, we processed 51,200 applications (9244 refused) and 13693 variations (1791 refused). View the council’s Permit Scheme Evaluation Reports.

Buckinghamshire Council is an active member of the Local Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC), operating within the Anglian region. It holds quarterly HAUC meetings, chaired by the Network Co-ordination Manager, attended by utility companies and Highway Alliance partners. Additionally, the Council engages with utility companies on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to coordinate forward planning, permits, and performance. The council’s collaborative efforts with Work Promoters are highlighted in the Year 3 evaluation report, showcasing the scheme’s success.

To further reduce congestion, we have proposed a Lane Rental Scheme (BLRS), in line with Department for Transport and HAUC (England) guidance. This would charge works promoters for occupying high-traffic roads during peak times, encouraging faster, more efficient work. The scheme would apply to 522 streets (7.8% of the network) and aims to improve journey reliability, reduce emissions, and reinvest surplus revenue into future improvements.

To further enhance network oversight, we introduced an extended Streetworks inspection service in May 2024, operating 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm on weekends.

This has enabled quicker responses to issues, such as:

• removal of un-authorised works taking place on the highway without a permit, to avoid clashes on the network
• removal of traffic management, where it is no longer required to avoid elongated and un-necessary disruption
• enforcement of permit conditions, to promote greater compliance

As a result, 48,696 inspections were carried out in 2024/2025, leading to 10,214 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) being issued. This enhanced enforcement supports better compliance and smoother traffic flow.

Safety and environmental impact are also key priorities. We enforce minimum space requirements for road users during works and promotes shorter work durations to reduce risks. By cutting unnecessary idling, the scheme also contributes to lower carbon emissions.

Finally, we have adopted a more proactive communication strategy, using social media to inform residents about major or emergency roadworks. The key message is to “check before you travel”, even for routine journeys. For more information, see our check before you travel page.

Buckinghamshire Council continues to lead in road network management through innovation, strong collaboration, and a commitment to balancing essential infrastructure work with the needs of the community.

Buckinghamshire Highways is committed to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing sustainability in its maintenance operations. This commitment aligns with the broader goals set out in Buckinghamshire Council's Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

Several key initiatives and strategies are currently being implemented by Buckinghamshire Highways and our alliance partners through our Innovation Board, to decarbonise our highway maintenance operations, including the following:

• low carbon materials such as warm mix asphalt, grouted macadam, and recycled rubber asphalt are now used to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and extend road life. A potential plannings recycling centre is also under review
• sustainable repair techniques include thermal repairs, micro-asphalt surfacing, surface dressing, and cold in-situ recycling. These methods minimise waste, reduce the need for new materials, and lower the carbon footprint of road maintenance
• the transition to an electric vehicle fleet and battery-powered tools further cuts emissions, supported by the installation of EV charging points at depots
• in the last year over 3,100 streetlights have been upgraded to LEDs, reducing energy use and maintenance needs. Almost all of our streetlights and traffic signals are now LED
• additionally, working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Highways, our term maintenance contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP), dedicates 50% of its spending on maintenance operations to local businesses, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting materials and services from distant locations

These initiatives reflect Buckinghamshire Highways’ commitment to innovation and sustainability, with ongoing efforts to trial and adopt new low-carbon technologies for a greener future. We are an active member in the MHA+ Carbon Steering Group (CSG), which provides a collaborative platform for local authorities to discuss their work and share ideas to contribute to the carbon reduction agenda across the Highways sector. Moreover, a carbon strategy is in development to inform carbon management planning and a roadmap to achieve NetZero for all activities under the Buckinghamshire Highways alliance.

With continued funding and support from the Department for Transport, we aim to expand the variety of low carbon technologies used and trial new and innovative low carbon solutions, further enhancing the sustainability of our operations and contributing to a greener future.

Buckinghamshire Highways is actively working to understand and manage the risks that climate change poses to its road network. With more frequent extreme weather events such as flooding, heatwaves, and storms, we are taking a coordinated, data-driven, and community-focused approach to ensure our highways remain safe, reliable, and resilient.

Resilience is embedded across the council through a “One Council” approach. This means all departments work together, supported by our Resilience Service, to prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents. Buckinghamshire Highways also works closely with external partners, including the Environment Agency, Met Office, and utility companies, through the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum (TVLRF). Participating in the TVLRF ensures that our response to emergencies and severe weather events are coordinated with the necessary parties and provides a structured way to share information and lessons learnt - all of which improve the county’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to incidents.

The council recognises that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of weather-related hazards and has therefore carried out climate change risk assessments with regards to the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022.

To address the challenges outlined in this assessment, Buckinghamshire has developed a suite of strategic plans and frameworks which we will act in accordance with, including:

• flood risk strategies, plans and assessments, which outline the responsibilities of Buckinghamshire Highways in maintaining the drainage system, developing capital schemes to alleviate flooding, road closure and flood emergency planning and maintaining supplies of appropriate flood mitigation equipment.
• the 2025 Summer Readiness and Response Framework, which ensures a coordinated approach to summer hazards such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.
• the Council Emergency Response Arrangements (CERA) and Incident Management Process (IMP), which provides the structure for an effective and coordinated tactical/operational response to a disruptive incident or emergency either externally or internally to the council.

These documents are regularly reviewed and updated following any significant severe weather events.

To better understand where the network is most vulnerable, Buckinghamshire Highways analyses data from historic severe weather events, callouts, reports, and complaints. For example, using data-driven solutions, we have identified and mapped prominent flood hotspots across our network based upon historic flood callouts and utilise this information to develop drainage improvement plans and a prioritised register of drainage maintenance and improvements, such as clearing gullies and ditches or upgrading drainage systems.

Buckinghamshire Highways maintains a clearly defined “resilient network” - a selection of key roads that are critical for keeping the county functioning during severe weather events. These roads are prioritised for activities such as gritting and snow clearance to ensure they remain open and safe for use, especially during snow, ice, and freezing conditions.

This network includes routes that are essential for emergency services, public transport, access to hospitals, schools, and key employment areas. By focusing resilience efforts on these roads, we ensure that vital connections are maintained even when the wider network may be affected by adverse weather.

In partnership with Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) we have introduced a state-of-the-art Operational Control Hub (OCH) to support a data-driven approach to decision-making and resilience planning. The OCH uses the latest in innovative technologies and systems to provide a single source of visibility to monitor all activities in real-time, track progress of works and enable data-driven decision making to drive further efficiencies across the network. Since its launch, we have seen an increase in productivity in our reactive works by 120%.

Buckinghamshire Highways has also significantly increased its capital investment in drainage infrastructure to strengthen the network’s resilience against flooding. One of the key actions underpinning this commitment is the annual cleaning of all 85,000 plus roadside gullies across our network.

Gullies are essential for draining rainwater from roads and preventing surface water from accumulating, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions, road closures, and long-term damage to the road surface. By ensuring that every gully is cleaned at least once a year, we are reducing the risk of blockages that can cause localised flooding during heavy rainfall.

Buckinghamshire Highways understands the importance of keeping residents and road users informed during severe weather events and periods of disruption. Clear, timely updates help people stay safe and plan ahead. We share all necessary information on our responses to disruptions, road conditions, closures, and safety advice through our website and social media channels. Residents are also encouraged to report issues such as flooding, fallen trees, or road damage using tools such as FixMyStreet or engaging through the council's various communication channels, helping the council to respond quickly and effectively.

By combining data, planning, and community engagement, we are working to ensure that Buckinghamshire’s roads remain safe, reliable, and resilient in the face of a changing climate.