Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Accepted
Current highway infrastructure Code of Practice contains significant gaps, requiring urgent updates.
Recommendation
The Department told us that Ministers are considering a review of the Code of Practice as it considers there to be value in doing so, even though it will be major task to update the more than 260-page document. The Department acknowledged that there are gaps in the current Code of Practice that would need to be addressed, including in areas such as new technologies for assessing conditions and repairing potholes and climate adaptation.72 For example, the Road Surface Treatments Association set out to us the importance of road drainage systems to reduce road deterioration, given the increased rainfall from climate change.73 However, the Department also highlighted to us the work local authorities already do to share best practice between them as well as the work the Department is doing to support local authorities on responding to climate change.74
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation to refresh the Code of Practice by September 2026, commissioning TRL to develop a scope for updated guidance, including environmental matters and potential compliance requirements for local authorities.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2026 6.2 The government agrees that the current guidance that has been provided to local highway authorities through the ‘Code of Practice for Well Managed Highway Infrastructure’ document should be refreshed. The department has commissioned TRL to work with the sector to develop a scope for the refreshed guidance regarding where there may be gaps in the current guidance, such as around some environmental matters. The department will consider further whether, and if so how, local highway authorities might be required to comply with certain best practice criteria set out in the revised guidance to qualify for some or all of the funding. 6.3 The update to the code of practice is currently estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, so it will not be feasible to link it to the incentive element directly, which will be in place from quarter one in financial year 2025-26.