The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has urged the UK Government to introduce rolling five-year funding settlements for local highway maintenance, claiming the approach could unlock up to £2.2bn for reinvestment.
In a submission to HM Treasury ahead of the Autumn Budget on 28 October, the institution said longer-term funding, combined with improved working practices, could deliver efficiency gains of between 5% and 10% over five years. CIHT estimates this would represent savings of £1bn to £2.2bn.
Longer-term planning
CIHT said multi-year certainty would allow councils to plan maintenance more effectively, improve procurement, use bulk contracting and carry out more planned capital work. It said these measures could reduce the costs associated with short-term and reactive repairs.
Five-year settlements are already used for the Strategic Road Network and the rail sector, according to CIHT. Local authorities currently receive a mixture of short-term allocations and grants for highways work, a funding pattern the institution said makes long-term planning more difficult.
CIHT chief executive Sue Percy said: “Long-term funding gives local authorities the certainty they need to plan properly, invest more effectively and deliver better value for money.
“CIHT’s evidence shows that moving to a five-year funding settlement for local highway maintenance, alongside improved working practices, has the potential to generate efficiency savings of 5–10%, unlocking up to £2.2bn for reinvestment in our local road network.
“This is not simply about fixing potholes. A well-maintained, resilient and accessible transport network supports economic growth, connects people with jobs and opportunities and helps create healthier communities.
“Ahead of the Autumn Budget, we are asking Government to take the opportunity to provide the long-term certainty that local authorities and the sector need to plan, invest and deliver effectively.”
Resilience and accessibility
The CIHT submission also calls for transport investment to be linked to economic growth, health and inclusion. Its recommendations include ensuring new housing is connected to affordable and sustainable transport, investing in local technical skills, and providing consistent support for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.
The institution wants targeted or ringfenced funding for highways vulnerable to extreme weather, alongside measures to improve resilience and maintain connectivity. It also called for increased road-safety investment and a strategic review of how road-safety outcomes affect the NHS, social care and productivity.
Other proposals include disability equality training for local authority staff, action on barriers to electric vehicle uptake, and support for councils to share and implement road-safety best practice.
CIHT said it would continue discussions with HM Treasury, the Department for Transport and other government departments on its proposals.