The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) is calling on the government to move to long-term funding for local highway maintenance, arguing that a five-year funding model could unlock up to £2.2 billion in efficiency savings for reinvestment in the local road network.
Ahead of the Autumn Budget 2026, CIHT has submitted a representation to HM Treasury setting out how longer-term investment in local roads could provide greater certainty, improve efficiency and enable more effective investment in maintaining the network.
The Autumn Budget will be delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Central to CIHT’s submission is its call for a rolling five-year funding settlement for local authority highway maintenance, providing greater certainty and helping local authorities to plan and deliver maintenance more effectively.
CIHT’s evidence shows that moving to a five-year funding settlement, alongside improved working practices, has the potential to deliver efficiency savings of 5%–10%, equivalent to between £1bn and £2.2bn over five years. CIHT is calling for these savings to be reinvested in the local road network.
Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT, said: “Long-term funding gives local authorities the certainty they need to plan properly, invest more effectively and deliver better value for money.
“CIHT’s evidence shows that moving to a five-year funding settlement for local highway maintenance, alongside improved working practices, has the potential to generate efficiency savings of 5–10%, unlocking up to £2.2 billion for reinvestment in our local road network.
“This is not simply about fixing potholes. A well-maintained, resilient and accessible transport network supports economic growth, connects people with jobs and opportunities and helps create healthier communities.
“Ahead of the Autumn Budget, we are asking government to take the opportunity to provide the long-term certainty that local authorities and the sector need to plan, invest and deliver effectively.”
CIHT’s submission also sets out recommendations across three priority areas: economic growth; health, active travel and road safety; and removing barriers to opportunity.
The 2026 submission includes calls for investment in sustainable transport serving new housing, technical skills, climate resilience, active travel, road safety and accessibility.
CIHT is calling for the government to:
- ensure new affordable housing is well connected and served by affordable and sustainable transport;
- invest in technical skills and expertise at local level to strengthen transport planning and the integration of public transport;
- establish a dedicated fund to support and accelerate highways projects in areas vulnerable to extreme weather; and
- provide the long-term vision, funding and focus needed for the local highway network through a rolling five-year approach.
CIHT has previously highlighted that longer-term highways investment can support not only more efficient maintenance but wider objectives including economic growth, climate resilience, workforce development, social value and technological innovation.
CIHT is calling for consistent funding for the infrastructure and services needed to support walking, wheeling and cycling, alongside greater investment in road safety.
The Institution is also calling for a strategic review of the impact of road safety outcomes on the NHS, social care and economic productivity, as well as funding to help local authorities share and implement road safety best practice.
CIHT has previously highlighted the relationship between investment in active travel and improved health, with its research making the case for investment in walking, wheeling and cycling as part of a preventative approach to improving health and reducing pressures on health and social care.
CIHT’s submission also emphasises the importance of affordable and accessible transport in connecting people with education, employment and other opportunities.
It calls for investment to ensure people can afford and access educational opportunities and for funding to support equitable access to affordable transport.
CIHT is also calling for disability equality awareness training for local authority personnel involved in designing and changing the public realm, alongside accessibility training for housing and retail developers.
The submission also asks government to consider barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles and the role of future approaches to transport taxation and mobility pricing in supporting a fair, sustainable and accessible transport system.
CIHT said it believes greater certainty over transport funding would allow local authorities to plan more effectively, improve delivery and make better use of public money
