Press Release
No Responses December 5, 2025

Following last week’s Budget, government has now confirmed a multi-year highways maintenance funding package through to 2030. From the perspective of the Road Emulsion Association (REA), this represents a decisive step forward in tackling the UK’s local road challenges.

In the announcement, we’ve seen…

  • Record baseline established: 2025 was announced as a record year for government funding into local roads. This now serves as the baseline year for future investment.
  • Sustained improvements: Funding levels from 2026 through to 2030 are no lower than the 2025 baseline, meaning every year represents increased investment compared to the “record year.” This is further evidence of government’s seriousness about addressing the state of our local roads.
  • Four-year planning certainty: For the first time, a detailed four-year funding plan has been set out, giving local authorities the ability to plan their maintenance spending with confidence and efficiency over a longer horizon.
  • Retention of incentive bonuses: The incentive bonuses introduced in 2025 have been carried forward, sharpening the focus for local authorities on how funding is allocated and encouraging effective highway maintenance, along with transparent reporting.

Kevin Maw, Secretary & Consultant, REA said: 

“This announcement provides both record-level investment and long-term certainty for local authorities. We also welcome the emphasis on prioritising preventative maintenance to reduce long-term repair costs.

By maintaining the 2025 baseline and retaining incentive bonuses, the government is sending a clear signal that effective maintenance of our local roads is a national priority.


The REA firmly believes that the increased use of surface dressing seen in 2025 must continue to grow through this next four-year funding period if there is to be an improvement in the quality of our local roads.


The REA welcomes this package as further evidence of serious intent to improve the condition of our highways and support better planning for the years ahead.”

You can find more detail about the allocations here:

Highways maintenance block: formula allocations 2026 to 2030 – GOV.UK