Nottinghamshire County Council is set to invest more than £120 million in roads, transport and infrastructure in 2026/27 under the first phase of a major highways programme, as it seeks to tackle a long-standing backlog of repairs and deteriorating road conditions.
A report outlines how £122.5 million of confirmed funding will be allocated across capital projects, routine maintenance and transport improvements during the financial year, with further investment expected to follow in a second phase later in 2026.
The programme comes against a backdrop of significant pressure on the county’s highways network. Surveys carried out in September 2025 found that around 38 per cent of Nottinghamshire’s roads are now in poor condition and require maintenance either immediately or in the near future. More than half of all road markings are also assessed as being in poor or very poor condition.
Council officers say the situation reflects more than a decade of underinvestment, during which assets have been “sweated” to meet budget constraints. This has led to a growing backlog of repairs, with carriageway maintenance alone estimated to require around £391 million to fully address as of 2024.
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The proposed spending programme includes around £50 million for capital maintenance, £32 million for routine and cyclical maintenance such as pothole repairs, gritting and grass cutting, and £8 million for integrated transport schemes including pedestrian crossings and road safety improvements. A further £29 million has been secured for projects such as flood prevention, active travel schemes and electric vehicle infrastructure.
In practical terms, the council expects the programme to deliver resurfacing or patching across more than 4.5 million square metres of road surface—equivalent to roughly 16 per cent of the network. However, the report makes clear this level of investment will not be enough to eliminate the backlog or significantly improve overall road conditions.
The authority estimates that around £101 million per year would be needed simply to maintain the network in its current state, meaning current funding levels remain below what is required to prevent further deterioration.
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As a result, the council is prioritising carriageway repairs over other assets such as footways, which are likely to see a widening gap between required and available funding.
The programme is built around a six-point strategy developed following a highways review. This includes a greater focus on preventative maintenance to stop potholes forming, improved quality of repairs to avoid repeat work, and the use of more durable materials. The council also plans to deploy additional patching crews to carry out permanent repairs and maintain the network throughout winter.
Alongside maintenance work, the programme includes a range of transport and infrastructure schemes. These include road safety upgrades such as new crossings and lining improvements, as well as ongoing investment in major projects like the A614/A6097 junction improvements, which are expected to begin construction in summer 2026 and run until 2028.
Active travel schemes will also continue, with improvements to walking and cycling routes at locations including Netherfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Stapleford, alongside new crossing facilities in areas such as Bunny, Retford and Beeston.
Flood mitigation remains a significant element of the programme following recent severe weather events. The council is progressing schemes in multiple communities and continuing work on natural flood management measures designed to reduce downstream flooding by slowing water flow in upper catchments.
Electric vehicle infrastructure is another key area of investment. The council is continuing trials of on-street charging cable channels for homes without driveways, with more than 130 installations already completed, and is preparing to roll out a wider network of public charging points using government funding secured through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure programme.
The funding package reflects changes introduced through devolution, with a significant proportion now coming via the East Midlands Combined County Authority. While allocations for 2026/27 have been outlined, some elements remain subject to final confirmation, and further funding decisions are expected in the coming months.
The report notes that around £12.5 million of capital funding and £6 million of revenue funding for 2026/27 has not yet been allocated by the combined authority, with decisions expected in April. Any additional funding awarded to Nottinghamshire would be brought forward in a second phase of the programme.
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If approved, the phase one programme will authorise delivery of a wide range of maintenance, transport and safety schemes across all seven districts in Nottinghamshire during 2026/27, with individual projects subject to further consultation and design work where required.
