LCRIG unveils landmark report highlighting the innovation pulse of the highways sector

by Kevin Borras

The Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) has published its most comprehensive piece of insight to date, revealing that while a strong appetite for innovation exists across the highways sector, persistent structural barriers are preventing meaningful progress.

The 2025 LCRIG Innovation Report, based on survey data from LCRIG’s substantial membership base, paints a compelling picture of ambition constrained by complexity. The report identifies critical obstacles such as rigid procurement systems, funding limitations and risk-averse cultures – factors that consistently undermine the sector’s ability to adopt new
technologies and deliver smarter, more sustainable highways and local roads.

Paula Claytonsmith, Chief Executive, LCRIG, said:

“This report confirms what many in our community already feel, there is no shortage of vision or innovation, but systems need to catch up. LCRIG is committed to helping bridge that gap.”

Key findings include:

• 78% of local authority professionals identify as Innovation Pioneers or Experimenters.
• 75% favour incremental innovation due to limited risk appetite and short-term planning cycles.
• 70% cite procurement as a major barrier to innovation.
• 76% of suppliers plan to increase innovation investment, but struggle to navigate outdated procurement frameworks.
• Top innovation priorities include Artificial Intelligence, Connected Vehicle Data, and Sustainable Materials.

The report encourages fresh thinking and closer collaboration across local government, industry and delivery partners to rethink how innovation is defined, funded and adopted. It highlights eight targeted recommendations, ranging from building a national knowledge hub and supporting procurement, to developing shared-risk models and increasing CPD-accredited innovation training.

Ian Large, Head of Highways and Traffic Management Services, Blackpool Council and Chair of the LCRIG Innovation Board:, added

“This report helps connect the dots, showing what’s working, what’s not, where more support is needed and how through LCRIG, we can move innovation forward in practical ways.”

In response, LCRIG has committed to a bold programme of action, including:

• Launching a new Innovation Knowledge Hub to support evidence-based adoption.
• Developing a Local Authority Innovation Wish List to improve supplier alignment.
• Creating tools that make it easier to trial, evaluate and adopt innovation.

The full report is accessible to all LCRIG members and is intended as a resource for local authorities, suppliers, policymakers and sector leaders alike.