Over £10 million invested for North Somerset roads improvements

North Somerset Council has invested more than £10.1 million in maintaining roads, while introducing a new long-term strategy designed to help roads, footways and other highway assets last longer and deliver better value for residents.  

The council’s recently published Highway Maintenance Transparency Report shows the scale of work already being carried out across North Somerset over this financial year.

During 2025/26, council teams repaired around 9,250 potholes, which is the highest number achieved to date, having increased from 6,600 repairs in 2024/25 and 5,400 in 2023/24.

Teams also cleared 23,870 highway gullies last year, helping to improve drainage and reduce the risk of flooding across the network.

This year to date 13,946 gullies have been cleared. These figures are thought to be increasing year-on-year in part due to having the right planning and investment in place.

The Transparency Report sets out how more than £10.1mn is being invested in highways during 2026/27, including:

• £3.65 million for structural carriageway maintenance
• £2.3 million for preventative carriageway maintenance
• £261,000 for planned repair and patching programmes
• £558,000 for reactive repairs and patching

A significant proportion of this investment is focused on preventative maintenance. This includes surface dressing, structural maintenance, road repairs and patching work designed to tackle issues before they become more serious.

By intervening earlier, the council aims to extend the life of roads, reduce the need for more extensive repairs in the future and make the best possible use of available funding.

To support this approach, North Somerset Council’s cabinet has now approved a new Highway Asset Management Strategy.

The strategy will help guide future investment decisions across the network by using condition data, inspections and evidence to identify maintenance needs earlier than ever before and target funding where it can have the greatest impact.

In simple terms, the strategy focuses on delivering the right maintenance, in the right place, at the right time.

Comments

Cllr Hugh Malyan, cabinet member for highways and transport at North Somerset Council, said: “We know our residents want well-maintained roads and footways, and they rightly expect us to make the best possible use of money available.

“This year we’re continuing to invest more than £10 million in our highways, while delivering significant maintenance work across North Somerset.

“We’ve repaired around 9,250 potholes over the past year and are increasingly focusing on preventative maintenance, helping us identify issues earlier and make ever pound go further.

“Maintaining our highways goes beyond fixing potholes. It’s about looking after a network worth more than £3 billion and making sure investment is targeted where it can make the difference for residents.”