Nottinghamshire County Council has released a report on its latest highways review and some key recommendations, following the Cabinet’s decision in June 2025 to reassess the management of the county’s road network.
The review comes at a time where the maintenance of highways is high on the agenda. Nationally, there is a £17 billion backlog in road repairs, with public concern over maintenance throughout the UK.
The challenges facing Nottinghamshire are no exception, with maintenance funding spread across the 2,760-mile highway network, including 96,000 streetlights, 369 bridges, 141,000 drainage assets, and over 45,000 highway trees.
In 2025, 77 miles of road repairs were completed, including 60 miles of surface dressing. These repairs form part of the £52 million in capital maintenance and £20 million in revenue funding the Council is investing in the network.
The review sets out plans to build on previous good practice, outlining recommendations across four themes: securing funding, managing assets, delivering services efficiently, and improving communications and community involvement.
When managing assets, prevention is better than cure, and there will be continued support for preventative treatments that stop potholes from forming, such as surface dressing. Where problems do occur, the Council will reduce the use of temporary repairs, instead expanding its “right repair, right first time” approach wherever possible and will use a ‘whole street’ repair model where possible to minimise disruption for residents and road users.
Funding remains critical. The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) provided £44.7 million of Nottinghamshire’s £52.4 million highways capital funding in 2025–26. The Council is working with EMCCA to secure multi-year funding for improved planning and delivery.
There was strong support of the Council’s delivery model through partner Via East Midlands. Via continues to exceed performance targets, while bringing additional benefits to the County through its focus on local supply chains, local spend and social value. Through innovation, Via has doubled patching output per gang and also created efficiencies through investment in AI-supported asset management technology. A £4.68 million depot upgrade is underway to boost staff welfare and operational resilience.
The review calls for more localised updates, a customer-friendly Highways Plan, and a new Customer Service Strategy to improve the experience of residents and road users in the county. This builds on previous communications improvements including the MyNotts app, explainer videos, and QR code feedback.
Community-led schemes like the Lengthsman Programme and Traffic Management Revenue Programme are praised, with recommendations for expansion and increased funding.
Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “This review has highlighted that we have made a good start on highways with good levels of resurfacing being delivered in 2025
“The outcomes and recommendations from this review will continue to build on past work and strengthening our relationship with EMCCA to secure future funding.
“We have a large highway network in Nottinghamshire, and it is about more than just our roads and pavements. There are a vast number of assets we need to manage, maintain and improve, and as you can see nationally, there is a significant backlog in road repairs.
“Through the review, we hope to continue making improvements, keep our residents and road users informed, and make a real difference in our communities. We know there is more to do we are focussed on making a real difference to our communities.
“The Cabinet Member Working Group will meet quarterly to oversee delivery.”
However Cllr Sam Smith, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Nottinghamshire County Council said:
‘The Reform-led administration has “re-branded” existing Conservative achievements under the guise of a new Highways Review’, he called it ‘a waste of time and public resources.’
Cllr Mike Introna, Conservative Shadow Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, said the review offers “nothing new” compared to the comprehensive Highways Review carried out and delivered by the Conservative administration in 2021.
“This review is simply a re-badge of the Conservative strategy that’s already working. The ‘right first time’ repairs, better communication with residents, and expanded patching gangs were all introduced under our leadership and were already showing results. Reform have taken our plan, changed the heading, and called it their own – wasting officer time and taxpayers’ money in the process.”
Cllr Introna said the problem with Nottinghamshire’s roads has never been the lack of a plan, but the lack of funding.
“We left behind a clear and effective strategy. The real barrier has always been funding, not ideas. EMCCA holds the key to unlocking that investment. Instead of producing another glossy review, the Cabinet should be standing up to the Mayor and demanding a fairer share of EMCCA money for Nottinghamshire’s roads.”
He added that funding should not only support major infrastructure schemes, but also the day-to-day resurfacing and maintenance projects that make the biggest difference to residents.
“While millions are being funnelled into cycle corridors and small-scale active travel schemes, which Lee Anderson MP supported, vital road and bridge projects are being ignored. We need investment in real infrastructure that drives connectivity and improves everyday journeys – from the 4th Trent crossing and the Kelham Bridge improvements, to the Bingham railway bridge and junction upgrades at Gunthorpe. But equally, we need sustained EMCCA funding for road resurfacing, patching, and local repairs, so every community sees tangible improvements, not just the big headline schemes.”
Cllr Introna added that residents deserve openness on delivery, not more closed-door reviews.
“The proposed Cabinet highways working group can’t become another talking shop hidden behind closed doors. The Council should publish performance data and show residents exactly where repairs are happening and how quickly. Transparency will be the true test of this administration’s commitment.”
He concluded: “We’ll always support genuine progress, but this review doesn’t move Nottinghamshire forward. It’s a re-brand, not reform – and the people of this county deserve better than time being wasted on recycled ideas dressed up as new policy.”
“Councillors of all parties, particularly Reform who have a track record of absence, also need to regularly engage and turn up to meetings with VIA staff to get things done”
