The UK government has released an extra £220m for pothole repairs, with nearly 7,000 miles of road resurfacing – the equivalent of travelling between London and Singapore – set to be completed this year, according to new figures published on Wednesday (October 21).
Potholes remain a daily nuisance for drivers across the country, whether they are travelling to work, the school run or a hospital appointment. Councils across England will receive more funding to meet new targets on eliminating potholes on their roads.
Funding tied to council performance
Further funding will be released later in the year only if councils reach their performance targets, and can be withheld if they fail to meet them, as part of the government's efforts to hold councils to account.
Figures from local councils show that over 10% more resurfacing took place last year. Data also indicates that councils are starting to invest properly in their roads, with £4.9bn total being spent this year – £800m more than before this government came to power.
Record investment and driver savings
The record figures show that the government's £7.3bn in funding for road maintenance is starting to deliver better roads for communities that have suffered from potholes, helping the average driver save up to nearly £600 on costly repairs.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "For too long potholes have been a source of national embarrassment, forcing hard-working people to fork out for repairs and posing a danger to all road users. But today's figures show that we are starting to turn a corner."
"While we know there is much more to do, our record funding, combined with tough new rules holding councils to account, mean that drivers are making smoother journeys while giving people roads they can rely on," she added.
Preventative works and industry response
The reports councils submitted to the government show that 94% of councils will complete preventative roadworks this year, stopping the same part of road being patched over and over again, and stamping out potholes before they have the chance to form in the first place.
Additional figures released last week show that local road conditions improved in the year ending March 2026, with fewer minor roads needing maintenance as a result of works last year.
Dan Joyce, Operations Director at Kwik Fit, said: "Kwik Fit teams across the country have been repairing damage from potholes all too often, with tyres, wheels and suspension components most frequently suffering from the impact. Potholes not only cause costly damage, they can also present a significant risk to road safety."
He added: "We welcome this increased investment, especially the additional focus on proactive maintenance as this helps prevent potholes before they become a danger to road users, or a drain on drivers' wallets."
This campaign comes as the government has announced several changes to everyday life to tackle the cost of living crisis, following recent news to tackle antisocial behaviour on transport, including £100 fines on buses and a crackdown on loud music on trains.
