England councils must publish permanent pothole repair data

Local authorities across England are now required to publicly prove they are fixing potholes permanently under new government rules that took effect on June 9, 2026. The regulations mandate detailed transparency reports on road conditions and repair methods, aiming to end a cycle of temporary patches and encourage long-term resurfacing.

The Department for Transport announced the measures, which compel councils to publish evidence showing not only how many potholes they fill but also what they are doing to prevent the same defects from recurring. The first set of public reports is due in September. Councils that fail to comply or publish on time risk losing nearly a third of their annual highways maintenance funding, a penalty that could amount to up to £524 million being withheld nationally.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said the changes mark an end to an era where short-term work was prioritized over genuine repairs, which he said has long infuriated motorists. The policy is backed by a record £7.3 billion long-term road maintenance fund, access to which is now contingent on councils demonstrating what the government terms "future-proof" maintenance.