New national data now lets drivers see how well their local council maintains roads. A fresh traffic‑light rating from the Department for Transport ranks 154 local highway authorities on pothole repairs and road upkeep. The result exposes a nationwide patchwork of performance and the pressure on councils to improve.
What the traffic‑light system measures and the headline results
The ratings use three colours to show overall road maintenance performance. They cover current condition, investment plans and governance. Of the 154 authorities assessed, the majority landed in the middle band.
- 13 councils rated red — judged not to meet expected standards.
- 125 councils rated amber — showing mixed performance.
- 16 councils rated green — meeting expectations.
The ratings aim to make performance visible to residents and to focus support where roads are worst.
Councils flagged as needing urgent action (red list)
These local authorities were identified as requiring the most attention.
- Bedford
- Bolton
- Cumberland
- Derbyshire
- Greenwich
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Leicestershire
- North Lincolnshire
- Slough
- Suffolk
- Waltham Forest
- West Northamptonshire
- Westmorland and Furness
Majority show room for improvement (amber list)
Most councils received an amber rating, meaning repairs and plans vary across areas.
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnet
- Barnsley
- Bath & North East Somerset
- Bexley
- Birmingham
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Bracknell Forest
- Bradford
- Brent
- Brighton and Hove
- Bristol
- Bromley
- Buckinghamshire
- Bury
- Calderdale
- Cambridgeshire
- Camden
- Central Bedfordshire
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- City of London
- City of York
- Cornwall
- Croydon
- Derby
- Devon
- Doncaster
- Dorset
- Dudley
- Durham
- Ealing
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Enfield
- Gateshead
- Hackney
- Halton
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Hampshire
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Hartlepool
- Havering
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Hounslow
- Isle of Wight
- Isles of Scilly
- Islington
- Kent
- Kingston upon Hull, City of
- Kingston upon Thames
- Kirklees
- Knowsley
- Lambeth
- Lancashire
- Leicester
- Lincolnshire
- Liverpool
- Luton
- Medway
- Merton
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle
- Newham
- Norfolk
- North East Lincolnshire
- North Northamptonshire
- North Somerset
- North Tyneside
- North Yorkshire
- Northumberland
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
- Oldham
- Oxfordshire
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Reading
- Redbridge
- Redcar & Cleveland
- Richmond upon Thames
- Rochdale
- Rutland
- Salford
- Sefton
- Sheffield
- Shropshire
- Solihull
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- South Tyneside
- Southampton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Southwark
- St Helens
- Staffordshire
- Stockport
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Sunderland
- Surrey
- Sutton
- Swindon
- Tameside
- Telford and Wrekin
- Thurrock
- Torbay
- Tower Hamlets
- Trafford
- Transport for London
- Wakefield
- Walsall
- Wandsworth
- Warrington
- Warwickshire
- West Sussex
- Westminster
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wirral
- Wokingham
- Wolverhampton
Councils meeting the standard (green list)
A smaller group achieved the top rating.
- Coventry
- Darlington
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hillingdon
- Leeds
- Lewisham
- Manchester
- Middlesbrough
- Portsmouth
- Rotherham
- Sandwell
- West Berkshire
- Wigan
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Money, conditions and accountability
The government has pledged a record £7.3 billion for local road repair and upkeep. That funding comes with strings.
- Authorities were told to publish transparency reports before receiving the full allocation.
- 25% of annual funding was held back until councils set out clear maintenance plans.
- Additional targeted support will be offered to the worst performing councils.
The Department for Transport also plans to deliver specialist planning help to the lowest rated authorities. Small pots of funding will support trials of longer‑lasting fixes.
Voices from motoring groups and local road experts
Driving organisations and innovation groups welcomed the move, but warned about inconsistent delivery.
- Motoring groups say fixing potholes ranks high on motorists’ wish lists.
- Industry bodies called for steady, long‑term funding so councils can plan preventative work.
- Local road innovation groups urged using the ratings to target the best solutions and pilot projects.
Experts stressed that transparency and smart investment are essential to turn short‑term repairs into durable improvements.
How residents can find their council’s road rating
The ratings and supporting reports are publicly available. Residents can follow these steps to check their area.
- Visit the Department for Transport website and search for “local highways authority ratings”.
- Look for your council name in the published tables or downloadable files.
- Read the council’s transparency report to see planned investments and timetables.
- Contact your local councillor if you want details on how funds will be spent locally.
What drivers should expect in coming months
With funds earmarked and public ratings published, councils face pressure to act quickly. Some areas will receive expert help and pilot funding.
If councils follow through, road quality should improve and reactive repairs may give way to planned maintenance.
But the success of the programme will depend on effective use of the funding and clearer local delivery plans.
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