Road users should not expect a quick fix to the condition of London’s roads, despite a reported increase in funding, says this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report.
Additional investment in highways maintenance from borough’s own sources, as well as an allocation from the Department for Transport (DfT)[1] this financial year, has resulted in some marginal early improvements, but the backlog of carriageway repairs in the capital has increased to £1.22 billion.
Around 46% of the network is reported to be in good structural condition, up 6% on last year. However, one in five (21%) London roads – equivalent to over 1,900 miles – is reported to have less than five years’ structural life remaining.
“I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace,” said David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which commissions the ALARM survey.
“Tracking ALARM data over the last decade shows the amount needed to bring local roads up to scratch has increased dramatically, and the impact of frequent adverse weather events on a consistently underfunded – and increasingly fragile – network are coming home to roost.”
Highway maintenance budgets in London for 2025-26 are reported to have increased by 22% to an average £13.2 million per authority, with 44% of that spent on the surface and structure of the road.
However, the additional amount London boroughs reported they would have needed in the last year to maintain the network to their target conditions has risen to £310 million (up 35% on last year), likely to be compounded by the impacts of one of the wettest winters on record.
Findings of ALARM 2026, which relate to the 2025/26 financial year, also show that in the capital:
· London borough’s would have needed, on average, an extra £9.7 million each last year to maintain their network to their own target conditions and prevent further decline.
· £1.22 billion is now reported to be required, as a one-off, for local authorities in the capital to bring the network up to their ‘ideal’ conditions.
· Almost 5,000 miles (54%) of local roads in London are now reported to have less than 15 years’ structural life remaining.
· 82,336 potholes were filled over the last year at a cost of £6.5 million.
Commenting on the ALARM report, AA President Edmund King OBE, said: “The ALARM 2026 report starkly warns us how much more needs to be done to eradicate this plague of potholes. We have been seeing with our own eyes, and feeling with our wheels, how record wet weather linked to substandard roads has led to many local roads becoming patchwork obstacle courses.
“The AA has been called out to 17,571 pothole related incidents in London in January and February this year. Extra funding needs to be maintained and spent on more permanent repairs to prevent extensive vehicle damage and potentially fatal injuries to those on two wheels.”
AIA Chair David Giles added: “London boroughs receive almost all of their budget (85%) from their own sources, rather than from central government, and have told us they are cautiously optimistic that the increased funding – if it’s maintained – should help them stem further decline.
“However, it’s not the silver bullet that will enable them to clear the backlog of repairs any time soon and it will be some time before the impact of increased funding levels will be noticed by the public.”
The ALARM survey reports local road funding and conditions in England and Wales based on information provided directly by those responsible for the maintenance of the network. This year’s survey, the 31st, received responses from 81% of London boroughs.
The full ALARM survey report will be available to download from 00.01 hours on Tuesday 17 March 2026 at: www.asphaltuk.org