Highway Maintenance Transparency Report 2026
How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Darlington
What we are responsible for maintaining?
Darlington Borough Council is responsible for maintaining the Roads, Footpaths, Cycleways and Public Rights of Way in Darlington. With the exception of the A1(M) and A66, that are maintained by National Highways, and Network Rail bridges.
We are responsible for maintaining the following lengths of highway and their associated assets:
- Carriageways - 544km
- Footways - 632km
- Cycleways - 13km
- Public Rights of Way - 305km
In addition to the highway assets listed above the Council is also responsible for the maintenance of the following:
- Bridges – 106
- Retaining Walls, Culverts and Subways – 209
- Street Lights – 16241
- Road Signs – 7159
- Road Gullies – 23665
These assets are subject to a maintenance regime based on national code of practice recommendations, where applicable. For example, bridges receive a Principal Inspection every six years and a General Inspection every two years.
Like most authorities, Darlington faces the challenge of maintaining an ageing and increasingly pressured highway network, meeting public expectations, improving resilience to climate change, and delivering the best possible outcomes within limited funding and resources. In response, the Council is taking a more proactive asset management approach, focusing on preventative maintenance, risk management and network resilience to make the most effective use of available resources.
Road conditions in Darlington
A Roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7.2% | 33.5% | 59.3% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | 29% | 66.5% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | 33.7% | 61.4% |
B and C Roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.7% | 27.4% | 67.9% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | 38.9% | 58.5% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | 55.5% | 41.7% |
U roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4% |
| 2024 | 8% |
| 2025 | 7% |
Councils use road condition surveys to assess the state of their roads. The results are grouped into three categories:
- Green – the road is in good condition and no further investigation or treatment is required
- Amber – the road may need maintenance soon
- Red – the road is in poor condition and should be considered for maintenance
The published official statistics for road condition [external link] include more detail about the methodology, timing and coverage of this data.
Additional information on carriageway condition
Up to 2023 Darlington used SCANNER surveys for the A, B & C roads with Course Visual Inspection (CVI) being used for U roads. We have now moved to an approach where all roads have an AEI survey as previously mentioned. This means that the two latest years (2024 onwards) figures are not comparable with 2023, but it also means that we now have a means of understanding and measuring the amber & green values of U roads.
From 2026 to 2027 a new methodology will be used based on the BSI PAS2161 standard. Local Highway Authorities will be required to use a supplier that has been accredited against PAS2161. This new standard (link HERE) will categorise roads into 5 categories instead of 3 to help government gain a more detailed understanding of road condition in England. Our current survey supplier was implicit in setting up these new methodologies and as such will meet these standards.
What we are doing about potholes and other road defects
What is a pothole?
A pothole is usually the result of a longer deterioration process. If surface defects such as cracking, fretting, or ravelling issues are treated early, the pavement can often be preserved through maintenance interventions like sealing, patching, surface dressing before a pothole develops. This is generally far more cost-effective than reactive repairs once the pavement has failed.
Darlington define a pothole as a sharp edged depression measuring 40mm depth or more and 300mm or more wide in any horizontal direction. Any defect meeting these criteria will be repaired within a maximum of 20 working days. However, the response time can be shortened to 2 hours, 1 working day or 5 working days depending on the severity of the defect.
Please refer to our Pothole Webpage HERE for further Info and FAQ’s
What we are doing to tackle potholes?
Potholes are identified through routine safety inspections and reports from members of the public. Roads are inspected monthly, quarterly or annually depending on their use and classification. The busiest classified roads receive monthly driven inspections. During the winter period, inspections of classified roads are undertaken on a "find and fix" basis, with inspectors working alongside operational crews to enable immediate repairs where possible.
In 2025/26, the Council repaired 5,119 potholes identified through inspections and public reports.
The Council's policy is to undertake permanent repairs at the first visit wherever it is safe and practical to do so. However, factors such as severe weather, traffic management requirements, location constraints or emergency safety considerations can sometimes require a temporary repair before a permanent solution can be delivered. Response times and intervention criteria are set out within our risk-based Highway Safety Inspection and Maintenance Strategy, ensuring that the highest-risk defects are addressed as a priority.
Preventing potholes from forming is a key part of our asset management approach. Annual condition surveys, undertaken by independent accredited contractors, help identify roads most suitable for preventative maintenance and structural treatments. These include:
- Structural maintenance such as resurfacing and reconstruction on roads that have reached the end of their service life.
- Planned patching programmes to address localised deterioration before defects worsen.
- Preventative maintenance treatments, including surface dressing, micro-asphalt and crack sealing, to extend asset life and reduce future pothole formation.
The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by roads that received micro-asphalt treatment in 2014, where pothole repairs fell from 257 in 2013 to 30 in 2025, improving network resilience and reducing future maintenance demand.
How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects?
Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects via our Report It portal which is linked to the Aurora Highway Asset Management system.
- This online reporting portal makes it easier for residents to report defects at a time that suits them, without needing to contact the council directly.
- Interactive maps allow users to pinpoint the exact location of a problem, improving the accuracy of reports.
- Residents can also view issues that have already been reported and, where available, track progress and see actions taken.
- This increases transparency, reduces uncertainty and helps build confidence that highway concerns are being managed effectively.
What happens after a pothole is reported?
Once a report is made the following occurs:
- The system automatically identifies the responsible Highway Inspector and generates an inspection on their mobile device.
- An acknowledgement is sent to the customer where an email address has been provided.
- The inspector investigates the defect and assesses it against the Council's risk-based intervention criteria.
- Where action is required, repairs are ordered and prioritised according to risk.
- Permanent repairs are undertaken where practical, although temporary repairs may be used to make a location safe until a permanent repair can be completed.
- Customers are then updated on the outcome and any planned works.
What we spend to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from
Spending on highways maintenance
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (projected) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total spend on highways maintenance | £4,179,933 | £4,913,834 | £4,719,315 |
| Of which spent on: | |||
| Carriageways | £3,033,294 | £3,712,652 | £3,446,247 |
| Footways | £157,803 | £101,360 | £176,000 |
| Structures (for example bridges or tunnels) | £212,998 | £212,998 | £212,998 |
| Drainage | £50,502 | £46,753 | £50,000 |
| Street lighting | £419,000 | £482,640 | £482,640 |
| Other assets | £306,336 | £357,431 | £351,430 |
Where our funding for highways maintenance comes from
| Funding sources for highway maintenance | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding received through the Department for Transport / UK Government | £2,729,818 | £3,077,059 | £3,123,999 |
| Additional highway maintenance funding provided by the Council or third parties | £1,438,464 | £1,796,675 | £1,595,317 |
| Total | £4,179,933 | £4,913,834 | £4,719,315 |
Our maintenance plans for this year
Our plans for highways maintenance for 2026-27
Carriageways:
Preventative Maintenance:
- Surface Dressing - 2.60 km
- Micro Surfacing - 0.05 km
- Asphalt Rejuvenation - 1.50 km
- Carriageway Retexturing - 0.93 km Total - 5.07 km
Carriageway Resurfacing:
- Resurfacing - 0.70 km
- In situ Recycling - 0.97 km
- Reconstruction - 4.20 km Total - 5.90 km
Footway Renewal:
- Bituminous - 0.48 km
- Flagged - 0.07 km Total – 0.55 km
Total length 2026/27 = 11.285km
Structures
Scheme Maintenance (11no)
- Culvert relining
- Bridge deck waterproofing
- Concrete repairs
- Mortar repointing
General maintenance (10no) includes but not limited to:
- Scour protection
- Rail / Fencing repairs
- Desilting
- Drainage weephole unblocking
- Vegetation removal
Street lighting
- General Maintenance (Fault Investigations / Repairs etc)
- Illuminated Bollard Inspections
- Electrical and Structural Testing
- 40-year-old Column Replacement
- Older Inefficient Led replacement
- General Maintenance
Full list of planned carriageway and footway works
A comprehensive list of schemes, treatments and schedule of when works will be carried out are identified and published on DBC’s website. This information is updated periodically to communicate any changes and can be accessed by clicking the following link:
Darlington BC - Highway maintenance schemes
How decisions are made on our maintenance plans
The Council adopts an asset management approach to prioritising highway maintenance and ensure the efficient delivery of services. The core principles that underpin our decision-making processes are set out within our Highway Infrastructure Policy and Strategy - HERE
Darlington Borough Council commissions an independent, Department for Transport (DfT) approved specialist company to undertake Annual Engineer Inspections (AEI) across the highway and footway network. These surveys, undertaken in accordance with PAS 2161, provide robust condition data to support investment decisions.
Survey results identify the most appropriate maintenance treatments and form the basis of our annual works programmes. Schemes are then assessed against a range of weighted value management criteria to ensure investment delivers the greatest benefit to residents, businesses and road users. Factors considered include network hierarchy, traffic volumes, public transport routes, access to key services such as schools and healthcare facilities, and the impact on economic activity. Whilst these considerations influence prioritisation, highway condition remains the primary driver in determining maintenance priorities and investment decisions
Transparency Report - Technical Annex
A copy of the Technical Annex is available to be downloaded [pdf document]