Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

In this section

  1. What we spent to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from
  2. How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Stoke-on-Trent
  3. Our maintenance plans for this year
  4. Transparency report – Technical Annex template
  5. Maintaining footways and cycleways
  6. Drainage
  7. Skills and training
  8. Adapting roads to withstand climate pressures
  9. Innovation
  10. Working with utility companies to reduce disruption to road users
  11. Managing highways maintenance contracts effectively

Adapting roads to withstand climate pressures

Climate and environmental factors, such as heavy rainfall, prolonged heat, and freeze-thaw cycles, are integral to effective highways asset management, as they influence asset performance, deterioration rates and long-term resilience. Understanding both the impacts of a changing climate and the carbon implications of maintenance activities supports better decision-making, helping authorities to optimise durability, manage risk and deliver best whole life value from their assets.

  1.  

Question

Yes/No
  1.  

Have you updated your asset management policy and strategy to reflect the increased probability of extreme-weather and/or geohazards now and in the future?

Yes ongoing
  1.  

Have you identified your resilient network and agree this with senior decision-makers

Yes
  1.  

If yes when did you last update this.

07/2021
  1.  

Have you identified locations that are repeatedly affected by extreme weather (e.g. flooding, heat damage, storms)?

Yes. The Council maintains records of locations known to be affected by flooding, heat-related deterioration and severe weather impacts through operational records, defect reports and flood risk investigations.

 

 
  1.  

Which climate‑adaptation measures are currently implemented on your network?

 

 
  • Targeted drainage upgrades or maintenance

Yes

 
  • Natural flood management / SuDS

Yes

 
  • targeted slope / ground stability / landslip mitigation

No

 
  • Heat‑resilient materials or surface treatments

Yes

 
  • Tree planting / shading for heat management

No

 
  • Other (please specify)

Yes / No (if yes, please specify)

 
  • None of the above

 
  1.  

Have you measured and benchmarked the greenhouse gas emissions from your highways maintenance service using a recognised industry standard? Or do you have arrangements in place to do this, such as by signing up to the DfT funded ADEPT Carbon Leadership Programme.

No – however, a colleague did this exercise as part of his masters dissertation.
  1.  

Have you formally engaged with the DfT funded ADEPT live labs 2 Programme, to understand what lessons your authority can utilise to increase the efficiency of your operations and support decarbonisation efforts?

No

 

Evidence Summary

We are currently delivering a number of drainage improvement schemes at locations known to experience flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. These schemes not only increase drainage capacity but also seek to reduce reliance on traditional highway drainage systems by incorporating sustainable drainage features. This includes the introduction of rain gardens, attenuation and storage features, and controlled discharge systems that allow water to be stored temporarily and released slowly into the sewer network.

By combining conventional drainage improvements with nature-based solutions, we aim to reduce flood risk, improve network resilience, support biodiversity and help manage the impacts of climate change. This approach also contributes to a more sustainable and adaptable highway network while delivering better long-term value from our infrastructure investment. As mentioned above, a colleague has done a reiteration of a carbon calculator and has achieved figures for many sections within our highways department, to which we are actively working through.

Further context on adaptation / resilience activities

Stoke-on-Trent City Council recognises that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of weather events that can impact highway assets, particularly through intense rainfall, surface water flooding, prolonged heat and changing freeze-thaw patterns. As part of our asset management approach, we are investing in infrastructure improvements that enhance the resilience of the highway network whilst supporting wider environmental objectives.

Also this year, we reviewed and changed the binder used within our surface dressing programme to improve its performance during periods of prolonged high temperatures. The revised binder has demonstrated significantly improved resilience during the heatwaves experienced this summer, with very limited instances of fatting up, aggregate loss or surface plucking. This reflects our commitment to continually reviewing materials, specifications and maintenance techniques to ensure the highway network remains resilient to changing weather patterns and the impacts of climate change.