Suffolk awarded £2.9 million for road improvements
Funding for highways management reflects council’s efficiency and best practices
Suffolk County Council has been awarded £2.9 million by the Department for Transport as part of its 2025/26 Incentive Fund.
The fund rewards local authorities for demonstrating excellence in highway management and resource efficiency. This marks another success for Suffolk County Council, which has consistently secured the maximum available funding under similar schemes in previous years.
To qualify for the funding, councils must meet stringent requirements, reporting on their highway maintenance expenditure, road condition trends, pothole repair data, and upcoming resurfacing plans. They must also demonstrate a balance between preventive and reactive maintenance, efforts in climate resilience, innovation, and coordination with utility companies to minimise disruptions.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Operational Highways, said the award highlighted the council’s commitment to long-term sustainability and value for money in its highways service.
"We are pleased to have met the detailed requirements of the government’s incentive fund and that they have given the green light to the maximum funding – it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our highways teams," West said.
"By embracing innovation and best practice, we have positioned Suffolk as one of the leading authorities in the country for highway asset management – and we have now been endorsed in our endeavours by the government.
“This investment will help us maintain and improve our network for the benefit of residents, businesses, and visitors."
Suffolk County Council plans to spend a total of £47.3 million on highways maintenance in 2025/26.
This includes resurfacing work across 57 locations, covering more than 11 miles. To date, 22 of the 58 sites have been completed, with the remaining work scheduled for completion by the end of the financial year.
The council’s surface dressing programme for 2025/26 has already treated a total of 90 locations, covering over 90 miles of roads.