Local roads at a crossroads – Government ratings spotlight the crisis in pothole repairs

As the nation marks National Pothole Day (15th January 2026), the Government’s new Local Road Maintenance Ratings have laid bare the true condition of England’s roads – and the figures make for worrying reading.

For the first time, 154 local highway authorities have been publicly rated Red, Amber or Green based on how effectively they are maintaining their local roads and tackling potholes. These ratings – published on the Department for Transport’s interactive map – highlight where progress is being made, and where urgent intervention is needed. The ratings assess not just the current condition of roads, but how councils are using increased Government funding to deliver preventative maintenance rather than costly reactive repairs.

This initiative builds directly on the Autumn Budget’s commitment of £7.3 billion over four years to boost local road maintenance funding, giving councils long-term certainty to pursue sustainable road improvements and reduce the burden on motorists.

Despite this significant investment, our road network continues to deteriorate, and potholes are increasing in number.

The Solution: Built-for-purpose asphalt that lasts

At the heart of improving road conditions are high-quality, durable repair materials. UltraCrete – part of the UK’s trusted Instarmac Group – offers a broad range of market-leading hot and cold lay asphalt surfacing materials engineered to deliver permanent, traffic-ready repairs that significantly extend the life of road surfaces and prevent potholes from reforming.

Products such as UltraCrete’s Instant Road Repair cold-lay asphalt provide immediate, robust solutions for pothole and road defects in all weather conditions, with minimal disruption to traffic. Meanwhile, Flow Fix flowable asphalt and other surfacing materials offer high-performance repair and maintenance capabilities suitable for both planned and reactive use.

With potholes costing drivers on average £320 in vehicle repairs – and far more in some cases – the case for selecting proven, long-lasting surfacing solutions has never been stronger.

For further information on how UltraCrete can help local authorities maximise budgets and additional funding to deliver more effective pothole repairs, please email ultracrete@instarmac.co.uk.

To find out more about UltraCrete’s market-leading product portfolio, please visit ultracrete.co.uk.