Local highways maintenance - Transparency core report 26/27
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.
How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Staffordshire
What we are responsible for maintaining
Staffordshire County Council is the highway authority responsible for managing and maintaining a large and diverse highway network that supports residents, businesses, public transport, freight movement and economic growth across the county.
Maintaining Staffordshire's highway network is challenging due to its size, diverse assets, ageing infrastructure and largely rural character. Many roads and structures were not designed for modern traffic levels. Rising traffic volumes, increasing public expectations, funding pressures and more frequent extreme weather events are accelerating asset deterioration and increasing maintenance demands.
Maintaining the highway network safely and efficiently requires regular inspection, condition monitoring, planned maintenance and targeted investment so that highway assets remain safe, serviceable and resilient for local communities.
In response to these challenges, Staffordshire County Council adopts a risk-based, evidence-led approach to asset management, prioritising investment to maximise value for money while maintaining the long-term safety, resilience and sustainability of the highway network.
The following are our key assets, each of which has a dedicated Highways Asset Management Plan.
- Carriageways – 6,120 km
- Footways – 4,360 km
- Bridges and structures – 1,580
- Streetlights and Illuminated Signs – Over 108,000
- Traffic Signal Sites – 553 signalised junctions and 261 electronic warning signs
- Drainage – over 165,000 gullies, catchpits and headwalls
Road conditions in Staffordshire
The following tables show the overall condition of the local highway network that Staffordshire Council is responsible for maintaining. This data is collected on an annual basis.
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3% | 24% | 73% |
| 2024 | 3% | 26% | 71% |
| 2025 | 2% | 15% | 83% |
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6% | 28% | 66% |
| 2024 | 8% | 28% | 64% |
| 2025 | 9% | 27% | 64% |
| Year | Percentage of road in red category |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8% |
| 2024 | 14% |
| 2025 | 14% |
Councils use road condition surveys to assess the state of their roads. The results are grouped into three categories:
- Green – the road is in good condition and no further investigation or treatment is required
- Amber – the road may need maintenance soon
- Red – the road is in poor condition and should be considered for maintenance
The published official statistics for road condition include more detail about the methodology, timing and coverage of this data.
Additional information on carriageway condition
We monitor the condition of Staffordshire's roads every year using specialist survey vehicles equipped with high-resolution cameras and AI-powered analysis. The technology captures detailed images of the road surface and uses artificial intelligence to identify defects and assess road condition, enabling us to detect issues earlier, prioritise repairs and make the best use of available funding. This follows the new national standard, BSI PAS 2161, which we adopted in 2024.
The change in approach in 2024 from more traditional survey methods affected the reported condition results as more of the network could be surveyed each year. This provided a more representative picture of overall road condition, enabling the council to gain a better understanding of its roads and where maintenance investment was most needed.
What we are doing about potholes and other road defects
What is a pothole?
Staffordshire County Council defines a pothole as a carriageway defect meeting its inspection criteria, with potholes of 40mm or greater investigated.
Depth alone does not determine whether a repair is required. Highway inspectors carry out a risk-based assessment that considers factors such as the size of the defect, its location, road type, traffic levels, use by vulnerable road users, and the likelihood of it causing harm. This assessment determines the most appropriate response and repair timescale in line with the Staffordshire Highway Safety Inspection Code of Practice.
Defects presenting an immediate risk to road users are prioritised for urgent repair, while lower-risk defects are programmed according to their severity and the resources available.
Potholes commonly form when water enters cracks in the road surface, weakening the road structure over time. Traffic and severe weather, such as heavy rainfall, flooding, and freeze-thaw conditions, can accelerate their development.
What we are doing to tackle potholes
Staffordshire County Council manages potholes and road defects using a risk-based approach set out in its Highway Safety Inspection Policy and wider highway asset management strategies. Through its Highways Roadmap, the council's long-term strategy for managing and improving the highway network, the council is focused on keeping roads in better condition, improving network resilience and delivering value for money through a balance of preventative and reactive maintenance.
In 2025/26, the council repaired an estimated 30,953 potholes across Staffordshire's highway network.
Preventative maintenance is a key priority. Treatments such as surface dressing help extend the life of roads, improve their condition and reduce the likelihood of potholes forming. To further support this approach, the council has committed an additional £15 million over two years to tackle lower-level defects and emerging potholes before they become more serious problems.
Where possible, permanent repairs are completed during the first visit to minimise disruption and reduce the need for repeat works. In some circumstances, such as where safety, traffic management or weather conditions are a factor, a temporary repair may be required before a permanent solution is delivered through a planned programme. This helps keep the network safe while ensuring resources are used effectively across Staffordshire's extensive highway network.
How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects
The public can report potholes using the council's online reporting system, which allows users to pinpoint the location of a pothole on an interactive map, upload photographs and provide additional information to triage and support inspection and assessment.
Reports submitted through the online system are automatically logged within the council's highways management systems, enabling potholes to be assessed, prioritised and managed in accordance with the Highway Safety Inspection Policy. All highway issues can be reported via the Staffordshire County Council website at:
Report a pothole or road condition – Staffordshire County Council
What happens after a pothole is reported
When a pothole or other highway defect is reported, it is assessed in line with the council’s Highway Safety Inspection Policy. Where required, an inspection is undertaken to determine the nature of the defect, its severity, and any risk to highway users.
Defects that meet the council’s criteria are prioritised and assigned a response time based on risk. Immediate safety concerns are addressed promptly, while lower-risk defects are scheduled through planned maintenance programmes.
Customers can track their report and receive updates throughout the process. Where a defect does not meet the council’s intervention criteria, the reasons are explained to ensure transparency.
What we spend to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from
The table below shows the capital funds allocated by Department of Transport each year, alongside both the capital and revenue spend.
The percentage spend on preventative maintenance is based on the amount spent on surface dressing, and retexturing treatments. These are treatments that are used to extend the life of the asset. Reactive maintenance covers work that is needed to repair assets, such as filling potholes.
Spending on highways maintenance
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (Projected) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total spend on highways maintenance | £93,277,322 | £88,828,187 | £104,115,810 |
| Of which spent on: | |||
| Carriageways | £67,574,099 | £58,409,177 | £73,588,348 |
| Footways | £3,821,479 | £3,734,278 | £6,150,630 |
| Structures (e.g. bridges or tunnels) | £7,470,030 | £7,852,085 | £7,424,610 |
| Drainage | £2,706,286 | £3,259,967 | £4,731,284 |
| Street lighting | £10,127,142 | £12,173,053 | £10,172,473 |
| Other assets | £1,578,286 | £3,399,626 | £6,448,464 |
Where our funding for highways maintenance comes from
| Funding Sources for Highways Maintenance | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (Projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding received through the Department for Transport / UK Government | £28,255,000 | £56,920,660 | £55,726,657 |
| [if applicable]: Additional highways maintenance funding provided by the council or third parties |
£65,022,322 | £31,907,526 | £52,789,153 |
| Total | £93,277,322 | £88,828,186 | £108,515,810 |
Our maintenance plans for this year
Our plans for highways maintenance for 2026-27
During 2026/27 we will be completing the following highway maintenance schemes:
- Length of roads planned to be resurfaced – 7km
- Length of roads planned to receive preventative treatment – 253km
- Length of footway planned for footway preventative treatment – 62km
- Drainage improvement schemes - 28
- Traffic signal Upgrades - 44
- Bridge improvement and maintenance scheme - over 150
Full list of planned carriageway and footway works
The full list of carriageway and footway schemes planned for 2026/27 can be found on our planned works webpage - View Planned Works.
How decisions are made on our maintenance plans
The council plans its maintenance programmes using an asset management approach that targets investment where it will have the greatest benefit. Priorities are informed by road condition data, Local Transport Plan outcomes, public reports, network importance, traffic levels and local knowledge.
Through its Highways Roadmap, the council aims to keep roads in better condition for longer by applying the right treatment, to the right road, at the right time. Programmes are designed to make the best use of available funding; coordinate works where possible and minimise disruption to residents and road users.
By balancing immediate maintenance needs with long-term improvements, the council delivers a safe, reliable and sustainable highway network.
