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Local highway maintenance transparency report
Our highway network is extensive and plays a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient travel for everyone. The estimated replacement cost of the highway network is estimated to be £2.1 billion and represents the biggest financial asset that we're responsible for.
As the local highway authority, we manage and maintain the adopted highway network, which is made up of a variety of roads, including major routes that connect towns and villages (A roads), as well as smaller roads that link rural areas (B and C roads) and local streets (unclassified roads). This comprehensive network makes sure that all areas, whether urban or rural, are accessible and well-connected.
In addition to roads, we're responsible for maintaining adopted footways that support pedestrians and cyclists. These include footways that provide safe walking routes and shared cycleways that promote sustainable and healthy transportation options. We also oversee other public rights of way, ensuring that all members of the community have access to safe and convenient routes.
Carriageways, footways and cycleways
A breakdown of the lengths of carriageways, footways and cycleways across the borough:
| A Road | B and C roads | U roads | Total roads | Footways/shared cycleways | Other public rights of way | On carriageway cycleways |
| 145km | 217km | 727km | 1090km | 1430km | 725km | 1km |
Other types of highway infrastructure
Our responsibilities extend beyond just roads and footways. We also manage critical infrastructure such as the following:
| Asset group | Quantity |
| Carriageways | 1,090 km |
| Footways and cycleways | 1,430km |
| Drainage | ~55,000 highway gullies |
| Structures | 225 highways structures (including bridges, culverts, footbridges and subways). |
| Street lighting | 33,199 street lights (Group A and B) |
| Traffic signals | 72 signal controlled junctions, 36 pedestrian crossings, 20 variable message signs (VMS), 47 automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR), 89 traffic management CCTV cameras, 17 vehicle activated signs. |
| Street furniture and signs | 19,000 signs (including ~5,360 illuminated signs), 18.5km safety fencing, 8.5km pedestrian guard rail, 8,200 safety bollards, 450 grit bins, 700 wayside seats. |
By maintaining and improving this network, we aim to meet the needs of our communities now and in the future, providing a well-connected, safe, and sustainable transportation system for all.
Spending on highway maintenance
Highway maintenance spending:
| Year | Capital allocated by DfT (£,000s) | Capital spend (£,000s) | Revenue spend (£,000s) | Estimate of percentage spent on preventative maintenance | Estimate of percentage spent on reactive maintenance |
| 2025/26 (projected) | £ 5,999 | £11,122 | £806 | 93% | 7% |
| 2024/25 | £4,592 | £11,263 | £781 | 94% | 6% |
| 2023/24 | £5,435 | £13,805 | £962 | 93% | 7% |
| 2022/23 | £4,000 | £11,058 | £892 | 93% | 7% |
| 2021/22 | £4,739 | £10,323 | £741 | 93% | 7% |
| 2020/21 | £8,696 | £11,165 | £604 | 95% | 5% |
We commit our own resources to an annual capital investment of £3.3 million per year toward highway maintenance activities, in addition to the grant funding provided by the government.
- Since 2018/19, an additional £2 million has been committed each year to highway maintenance in a targeted effort to reduce the maintenance backlog and provide additional funding for schemes such as the classified roads investment programme and the principal roads and side streets programme. This saw an additional 30 locations receive investment in 2024/25 and an anticipated 32 locations in 2025/26.
- Over this period, the targeted capital investment applied through sound asset management principles has seen the percentage of our unclassified road network requiring maintenance reduce from 21.85% in 2022 to 10.78% in 2024.
Types of treatments
To maintain our highway assets, we use a variety of repair treatments. By employing a combination of preventative and reactive maintenance strategies, we make sure we have a balanced approach to asset management.
Preventative measures, funded through capital investments, include resurfacing, reconstruction, retreading and surface dressing lengths of the highway network to avoid future deterioration. Resurfacing involves removing and replacing the top layers of the carriageway, while reconstruction addresses deep carriageway repairs that fix lower layers of failure. Retread and surface dressing are more sustainable solutions to road maintenance.
Reactive maintenance, sourced from revenue budgets, focuses primarily on pothole repairs, which are critical to preserving road safety and structural integrity. Repairs can range from surface treatments, which seal and protect the surface and provide enhanced skid resistance, to patch repairs that target multiple defects within specific areas.
Estimate of number of potholes filled
| How potholes were discovered | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Reported by the public | 3,878 (16.2%) | 5,308 (24.2%) | 5,685 (31.8%) | 8,438 (31.9%) | 4,672 (22.9%) |
| Statutory inspections | 20,068 (83.8%) | 16,688 (75.8%) | 12,213 (68.2%) | 18,045 (68.1%) | 15,753 (77.1%) |
| Total | 23,946 | 21,996 | 17,898 | 26,483 | 20,425 |
Condition of local roads
Percentage of A roads in each category:
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
| 2020 | 2.29% | 14.79% | 82.92% |
| 2021 | 2.02% | 13.66% | 84.34% |
| 2022 | 1.85% | 12.24% | 85.92% |
| 2023 | 2.52% | 13.79% | 83.69% |
| 2024 | 2.96% | 14.91% | 82.13% |
We collect condition data of 100% of our A road network through surface condition assessment for the national network of roads (SCANNER) surveys over a two-year period.
Percentage of B and C roads in each condition category:
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
| 2020 | 3.75% | 24.84% | 72.42% |
| 2021 | 2.66% | 22.98% | 74.36% |
| 2022 | 3.63% | 23.87% | 72.49% |
| 2023 | 5.02% | 25.59% | 69.39% |
| 2024 | 5.56% | 26.73% | 67.72% |
We collect condition data of 100% of our B and C road network through SCANNER surveys over a two-year period.
| Year | Percentage of U roads in the red category |
| 2020 | 13.36% |
| 2021 | 15.13% |
| 2022 | 21.85% |
| 2023 | 15.60% |
| 2024 | 10.78% |
We collect condition data of 100% of our unclassified road network (estate type roads) through coarse visual inspections every year.
Data we collect
The coarse visual inspection (CVI) is usually carried out on foot and allows 100% of the unclassified network (approximately 727km) to be assessed each year.
Road condition assessments on the local classified road network in England are currently made predominantly using SCANNER surveys, using laser-based technology.
A number of parameters measured in these surveys are used to produce a road condition indicator which is categorised into three condition categories:
- Green - no further investigation or treatment required
- Amber - maintenance may be required soon
- Red - should be considered for maintenance
From 2026/27 a new methodology will be used based on the BSI PAS2161 standard. Local highway authorities will be required to use a supplier that has been accredited against PAS2161. This new standard will categorise roads into five categories instead of three to help government gain a more detailed understanding of road condition in England.
Our strategy
Our approach to highway asset management is rooted in a strategic, data-led methodology that balances preventative and reactive maintenance to ensure long-term network resilience. We maintain a highway asset management strategy, which integrates condition surveys, defect reports, and local priorities to inform annual maintenance programmes.
We've demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the condition of our unclassified road network through strategic capital investment. In the 2021/22 financial year, we allocated £2.85 million to planned carriageway maintenance, with a significant proportion directed towards unclassified roads, which were identified as being in the poorest condition.
This investment focus was guided by lifecycle modelling, which prioritised treatments where they would yield the greatest network-wide benefit.
Building on this foundation, we launched the principal roads and side streets investment programme in 2023/24, followed by the emerging priority patching scheme, which addressed post-winter deterioration.
These initiatives laid the groundwork for a more ambitious capital programme in 2024/25, with over £12 million earmarked for core highway improvements.
This funding has enabled the resurfacing and reconstruction of priority roads, including unclassified routes. It's also supported the replacement of critical infrastructure such as drainage and lighting assets.
Our forward programme includes a dedicated £2 million internal investment specifically targeting the unclassified network, with an estimated 30 to 40 locations set for improvement.
This is complemented by an anticipated £1.999 million allocation from the Department for Transport in 2025/26. Together, these investments reflect our commitment to applying sound asset management principles to arrest deterioration and improve the condition of the unclassified network, ensuring it remains safe, resilient, and fit for purpose.
Sustainability and innovation
Our approach to asset management and annual maintenance programme is complemented by quarterly programme updates to elected members, ensuring transparency and local accountability.
In 2025/26, Barnsley is delivering a £17.214 million capital programme, supported by council capital funding, government grant, and one-off investments. The programme includes carriageways, footways, structures, drainage, lighting, signage and active travel infrastructure, aligned with council plan priorities such as Healthy Barnsley and Sustainable Barnsley.
This integrated approach makes sure that we not only maintain its highest-value asset efficiently but also support wider goals around economic growth, environmental sustainability, and public health.
Innovation is embedded in our approach to delivery. Our "walk, talk and build" model, praised in the LGA peer review, streamlines scheme development and accelerates delivery, while performance benchmarking and peer reviews drive continuous improvement.
The adoption of Microsoft Dynamics will improve customer service request handling, enabling real-time tracking, automated workflows, and improved responsiveness to public reports.
Recently, our operational efficiency has been further enhanced by the use of a water-activated cold-lay asphalt product ideal for urgent pothole repairs. Its rapid application and durability reduces disruption and supports a risk-based approach to reactive maintenance.
Together, these initiatives reflect Barnsley's commitment to delivering a resilient, efficient, and sustainable highway network that supports wider council plan priorities.
2025 to 2026 highways schemes
In 2025/26, we'll deliver a £17.214 million Highways Capital Programme, funded through a combination of council capital contributions, government grant, and additional government investment, including a £1.999 million uplift from the autumn 2024 budget.
The programme will benefit all parts of the borough, with targeted investment in both urban and rural areas. Key schemes include resurfacing works on principal roads and side streets, drainage improvements, and structural maintenance of bridges and retaining walls. The programme also includes enhancements to active travel infrastructure and road safety schemes.
In summary, the investments outlined for 2025 and 2026 will result in planned works at:
- 56 locations addressed as part of the local roads carriageway programme
- 21 locations addressed as part of the local roads footway programme
- 5 locations addressed as part of the principal roads programme
- 32 locations addressed as part of the principal roads and side streets programme
There will also be responsive repairs at locations for street lighting, drainage, structures, signs etc.
For more information on our current schemes visit our highways investment page.
Street works
Whilst we have a duty to maintain our highway network, we also need to enable statutory undertakers such as water, gas, electricity and telecom companies to exercise their statutory right to install and maintain their apparatus in the highway.
These works are classed as street works activities. We're also obliged to maintain expeditious movement of traffic by carefully managing and co-ordinating these works. These works are managed by permit applications, of which 11,000 to 15,000 are typically assessed each year, along with activities undertaken under licences.
All available tools are used in the permit application process to effectively coordinate works, and encourage advance planning and collaboration with other utility companies. They maximise efficiency for public transport operations, reduce disruption to highway users during roadworks and avoid digging in new highway surfaces.
| Types of intervention | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | 2023 to 2024 | 2024 to 2025 |
| FPNs issued | 789 | 1080 | 1021 | 909 | 349 |
| S74 charges issued | 111 | 159 | 169 | 122 | 92 |
| Collaborative works (as a percentage of all works) | 1.05% | 0.83% | 0.51% | 0.73% | 2.14% |
The life cycle of a street works activity begins with advance coordination meetings to encourage utility works before surface treatments. Section 58 restrictions are served to protect new surfaces for the maximum allowable time. Further planning and coordination work is undertaken when detailed proposals via permits and traffic restriction order applications are received to make sure works are undertaken in the right order, with collaborative work encouraged where possible.
A holistic approach is undertaken to avoid works too close together on key routes, with disruptive works permitted at the times when the impact on traffic is minimised. Works durations are considered, with agreed times as short as possible, with innovative works methodologies and traffic management systems used to minimise disruption, such as directional drilling, smart signals and use of temporary traffic restrictions.
During major projects we arrange regular update meetings with the teams to discuss concerns, analyse inspection results and update programmes. We also use enforcement action, including fixed penalty notices (for breaches of permit conditions and late notifications) and section 74 charges (where works overrun without authorisation) where appropriate to maximise the efficient use of our network. We also encourage collaborative works where possible to minimise highway occupation for works.
Climate change, resilience and adaptation
We're actively decarbonising our highway maintenance operations through a multi-pronged approach. The use of a water-activated cold-lay asphalt has reduced reliance on traditional hot-lay tarmac, cutting emissions associated with heating and transport.
At our main operational depot, we have recycling processes for our construction waste. Where possible, we recycle things like rubble from maintenance works and top soil from green waste. These materials are reused in future schemes, reducing landfill use and reliance on virgin aggregates.
Our fleet replacement strategy prioritises electric vehicles (EVs) and low-emission alternatives, with recent procurement rounds targeting a 65% reduction in transport-related emissions by 2030.
Operationally, the service follows a "right first time" principle, coordinating statutory undertakers and internal teams to minimise repeat visits and road closures.
Our LED replacement programme for street lighting and traffic signals continues to deliver significant energy savings and carbon reductions, with the final phase due for completion by 2026.
These efforts align with our Zero40 and Zero45 carbon targets and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable service delivery.