The New Highways Maintenance Plan Dedicates £16.5m Across York: A Breakdown of Where the Money Is Going

Anyone who lives, works, or just wanders through York knows that the state of the roads and pavements can be a bit of a hot topic. The City of York Council has just announced a massive £16.5 million investment to tackle these very issues. This is a 50% increase in spending compared to last year, all laid out in a new highways maintenance plan published on 31 March 2026. This huge cash injection is set to fund a whole programme of repairs and improvements across the city, from the busy city centre to the quietest suburbs.

What’s the plan all about?

So, where is this £16.5 million coming from? It’s a joint effort. The City of York Council committed a hefty £8.8 million in its budget back in February. On top of that, a significant chunk of funding has come from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which was officially confirmed at a meeting on Friday 27 March. This partnership is a big deal because it allows for a more ambitious plan. This investment will cover everything from resurfacing roads and repairing footways to upgrading street lighting and clearing out drainage systems. The aim is to make journeys smoother and safer for everyone in York, whether they're walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport. This comprehensive maintenance plan is designed to deliver real, visible improvements across the entire area, with lots of projects in the pipeline.

So, what's getting fixed?

This isn’t just about making the city centre look nice. The wide-ranging plan promises to spread the love far and wide. The list of schemes covers areas from Acomb to Osbaldwick, meaning villages and suburbs will see major benefits. For example, there are specific projects lined up for street lighting repairs in Shipton and numerous footway repairs right in the city centre. Cyclists and walkers haven't been forgotten either, with dedicated repairs planned for routes around the Knavesmire. The council is focusing on being smart with the money. Instead of just reacting to problems as they pop up (like the endless game of pothole whack-a-mole), the programme will prioritise proactive work. Think of it like servicing your car before it breaks down. By carrying out work that prolongs the life of a road surface, the council hopes to prevent bigger, more expensive problems down the line. This approach means the investment will go further, creating longer-lasting improvements for residents. The detailed schemes aim to address the most pressing needs first, ensuring the funding has the maximum impact on the local area.

A word from the council

When the maintenance plan was published, Councillor Kate Ravilious, the Executive Member for Transport, explained just how important this investment is for the city.

“Our highways and footways need significant investment and I’m delighted that this year we’re investing £16.5 million – some 50% more than last year,” she said. “Work to deliver this plan is already underway and we are prioritising proactive work to prolong the life of a road surface as well as repairs to potholes.”

“While this is significant investment and with additional contributions from the council’s budget, we know it won’t be enough to fix everything – an estimated £100 million is required to bring our highways up to a high standard. However, the four year funding settlement through the Combined Authority allows us to develop a multi-year programme and start to deliver the much needed and sustained improvement in our highway network.”

“Whichever way you travel in York, whether you use a mobility aid, cycle, walk, catch a bus, taxi or drive, this plan will help make your journeys easier. That means delivering more projects like the Albermarle Road and Heworth Green roundabout resurfacing work completed last year which brought benefits to all modes of travel. With schemes such as Beckfield Lane, the improvements to walking and cycling routes along the Knavesmire, plus repairs to city centre footways planned in for this year these wider benefits will continue and together, the projects all combine to help keep the entire city moving.”

“Thank you to our frontline teams who are out across the city all year round, and to residents for their patience while we carry out these repairs and improvements in the coming weeks and months.”

Putting the numbers into perspective

It's easy to hear big numbers like "£16.5 million" and not really grasp the scale of the job at hand. The City of York Council is responsible for a staggering amount of infrastructure. These are the public assets that residents rely on every single day, often without a second thought. Here’s a little breakdown of what their teams look after:

• 500 miles of roads: That’s roughly the distance from York to Paris!

• 660 miles of footpaths: You could walk the loop of the famous city walls more than 300 times to cover that distance.

• 23,000 street lights: Keeping the city's lighting in working order is a massive task in itself.

• 240 miles of walking and cycle routes: About the same as getting from York to Southampton.

• 160 miles of public rights of way: Like walking from York to Newcastle and back again.

• 137 sets of traffic lights: All needing maintenance to keep traffic flowing.

And that's not even mentioning things like drainage systems and the ongoing preservation of our incredible city walls. All of these different assets require constant attention and, of course, funding for repairs. This new maintenance plan is designed to provide much-needed care across this entire network, ensuring York remains a safe and accessible place for everyone.

How do they decide what to fix first?

With so many roads, footways, and lights to look after, how does the council decide which area gets attention first? It’s not just a case of picking a name out of a hat. The programme is carefully put together using a mix of science and public feedback. The council uses detailed condition surveys and data-led assessments to get a technical picture of what needs fixing most urgently. But just as importantly, they listen to feedback from residents. This combination ensures that the projects target the areas that genuinely need it most, making the investment as effective as possible.

The plan also includes a pot of money set aside for urgent or emergency repairs, because you can't plan for everything. If you're keen to see the full details, the highways maintenance plan is available to view on the council's democracy website.