Mayor to double funding for pothole repairs and road upgrades

Mayor Richard Parker has set out plans to double the amount of money given to councils for fixing potholes and resurfacing the region’s crumbling roads.

He wants to make £240m available to six councils, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton to cover their highway maintenance over five years from April 2027. That is double the £120m awarded to the councils for the current five-year period.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board will be asked to approve the £240m funding when it meets on Friday, February 13.

Last year the Mayor secured an additional £20 million from the Department for Transport to top up council road repair budgets for 2025-27 – helping councils fill thousands more potholes while awaiting the new funding.

The Mayor said: “This winter has been brutal on our highways forcing drivers to navigate thousands of potholes, cracks and deep craters. They aren't just an inconvenience, they are costing motorists a fortune in repairs and putting cyclists at serious risk.

“People across the West Midlands tell me that the lack of investment in our roads is one of their top frustrations – and I share that frustration. So we’re making road repairs a top priority by doubling our investment, providing our councils with the funding they need to ensure smoother, safer journeys for everyone.”

There are also plans to give councils additional funding for smaller projects, such as crossings, pathways and junction upgrades with a focus on improving road safety and encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle.

The increase in pothole funding is part of a wider review of transport investment to make sure the region gets maximum benefit from the £2.4bn Transport for City Regions funding secured by the Mayor last summer.

This includes making sure that tram, train, bus, road and cycling and walking investment supports jobs, business growth and new housing as well as improving journeys.

Birmingham City Council’s road repairs are funded through a separate private finance initiative process.