Made possible by reallocated HS2 funding

The Prime Minister’s Network North announcement on 4 October 2023 included a
commitment to an additional £8.3 billion for local highway maintenance from 2023/24 to 2033/34.

The Government has split the funding as follows:

• £3.3 billion for authorities in the North;
• £2.2 billion for authorities in the Midlands; and
• £2.8 billion for authorities elsewhere, including London

London will receive £235 million over the eleven year period with the funding distributed to the Boroughs based on road lengths. Lewisham will receive a minimum of £6,599,000 over this period.

Over the last ten years Lewisham Council has spent an average of £3.6m per annum on maintaining and renewing the Borough’s footways and carriageways. This extra funding from the Department for Transport is a welcome addition.

The Authority uses an online GIS based system to record highway assets and maintain highway survey information. The system captures imagery and AI intelligence provides asset and condition survey information. The condition information from this system forms the basis of carriageway and footway works programmes.

As with all London Boroughs, Lewisham’s roads are very busy. The Authority uses the London Permit Scheme (LoPS) to coordinate all works on the highway.
The Scheme requires utility companies, and other organisations, to provide details and durations of works. This allows the Authority to make informed decisions about the likely impact on road users.

Other tools are available through highway legislation allowing the Authority to issue fines against utility companies for failing to provide accurate information and over running stated work duration timescales.

Powers are available to make sure newly laid road surfaces are not dug up by Public Utility Companies. The Authority has regular co-ordination meetings with utility companies and neighbouring authorities. These meetings are used to exchange information on future work programmes from all parties allowing for longer term coordination.

These powers include Section 58 notices which are issued for authority works, reinforcing the work programme information supplied at coordination meetings. The notices show as flags on utility company work programming software systems ensuring only emergency works are undertaken in these areas.

The first year of extra HS2 funding has allowed for the surfacing of the worst areas of the roads:

• Adelaide Avenue
• Harefield Road
• Castillion Road