Norfolk has been allocated an extra £9 million over the next two years to repair roads and tackle potholes as part of an £8 billion boost across the country made possible by redirecting funds from HS2.
Millions of people will enjoy smoother, safer and faster road journeys thanks to the biggest-ever road resurfacing programme to improve local roads.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has set out the allocations of an £8.3 billion long-term plan, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of road across the country over the next 11 years. It’s one of the key cornerstones of Network North to improve journeys for all.
Across England, local highway authorities will receive £150 million this financial year, followed by a further £150 million for 2024/2025, with the rest of the funding allocated through to 2034.
Norfolk County Council can use its share of the £8.3 billion to identify what local roads are in most need of repair and deliver immediate improvements for communities and residents.
In each of the next two years Norfolk will receive an extra £4.5 million and the Minimum additional overall uplift between 2023-24 and 2033-34 is £141 million. This is in addition to £35.7 million of existing funding through the Highways Maintenance Block and Pothole Fund.
We’ve already confirmed £5.5 billion up until 2024/25, for England outside London, which includes the £200 million announced by the Chancellor at the Budget in March. Today’s £8.3 billion nationwide boost comes on top of that and extends until 2034, providing long-term certainty to local authorities and helping to prevent potholes from coming back in the future.
James Wild MP said:
“Potholes are a nuisance that cause damage to cars and are dangerous for cyclists. This welcome new funding will help improve the state of our roads and provide smoother and safer journeys. By the government taking tough decisions on HS2, Norfolk is benefitting from extra investment.”
According to the RAC, smoother, well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs from pothole damage, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket.
This £8.3 billion boost is particularly important when considering that, according to a survey from the AA, fixing potholes and investing in roads maintenance is a priority for 96% of drivers.
To increase transparency and ensure the £8.3 billion leads to an increase in the number of roads being resurfaced, local authorities will be required to publish information on their websites on a regular basis explaining how they are spending the funding in their area.
The measure is a key part of the government’s Network North plan, with money redirected from HS2 instead going to improve the daily transport connections that matter most to people.
Notes to Editors
See a breakdown of the funding allocations for local highways maintenance by authority.
