Department for Transport Lists 13 Councils With Lowest Road Ratings

The Department for Transport released a new assessment of local highway authorities in England, highlighting which councils are performing least well in maintaining roads and repairing potholes.

The traffic-light rating system, published on 11 January 2026, evaluated 154 local highway authorities for the 2025-2026 period. Thirteen councils received a red rating, which indicates the lowest performance in at least one of three measured areas.

Authorities receiving a red rating include Bedford, Bolton, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Leicestershire, North Lincolnshire, Slough, Suffolk, Waltham Forest, Westmorland and Furness, and West Northamptonshire. These councils were identified for lower outcomes in road condition, maintenance spending, or use of best-practice methods.

The Department for Transport stated that red-rated councils will be given dedicated support to improve their performance. This support package includes peer reviews and expert planning assistance, with a total of £300,000 allocated for these measures.

What the numbers show

• 154 local highway authorities were assessed in England
• 13 councils received a red rating for 2025-2026
• £300,000 in support is available for red-rated authorities
• Government committed £7.3 billion for road maintenance from 2026/27 to 2029/30
• Nearly £1.6 billion was provided for 2025/26

The rating system evaluates councils using three main metrics. These are the current condition of the roads, the amount spent on road maintenance, and the extent to which councils follow best-practice maintenance techniques.

According to the Department for Transport, the traffic-light ratings are designed to provide a clear view of how each council is managing its road network. The system aims to encourage improvements by identifying areas where performance is lower.

In addition to the targeted support for red-rated councils, the government has made broader funding commitments for local road maintenance. For the 2025/26 financial year, nearly £1.6 billion was provided, and a total of £7.3 billion is allocated for the period from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

The Department for Transport published the full list of ratings and outlined the support measures for councils with the lowest scores. The ratings and support are part of ongoing efforts to address road condition and maintenance standards across England.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.