Worcestershire County Council has welcomed recent announcements from the Department for Transport (DfT), confirming funding for highways maintenance and bus service improvements in the county.
The government has set out Worcestershire’s highways maintenance capital allocation for the next four years, providing improved financial certainty compared with the previous one-year settlement for 2025/26. The funding covers all aspects of the county’s highway network, including carriageways, footways, cycleways, bridges and street lighting.
Under the latest DfT announcement, Worcestershire’s highways funding is expected to increase from £29.57m in 2025/26 to £44.02m by 2029/30, subject to the authority meeting national Incentive Fund conditions.
The Incentive Fund requires councils to publish annual transparency reports, with 50% of the funding next year dependent on meeting those requirements.
Confirmation has been received of a further funding over the next 3 years under the Local Authority Bus Grant to improve bus services.
The funding will be used to deliver the priorities set out in the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan to make buses more frequent, reliable and better integrated, expand coverage (including rural and on demand services), improve bus stops, information and ticketing across the county.
Active Travel England has also confirmed the county will receive further funding to enhance local walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.
Councillor Karl Perks (pictured), Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said:
“I welcome the government’s announcements, which gives Worcestershire a clearer long-term view of highways funding and recognises the importance of maintaining and improving our transport network. These allocations will help us plan more effectively and continue to invest in essential works across our roads, footways, cycle routes and structures. The increase in future years is particularly positive. At the same time, we continue to face significant financial pressures as a council, and we must ensure that every pound is used as effectively as possible. This funding certainty will support us in doing just that.
“We are pleased to receive further funding to help us continue our work to improve bus services across the county. Making public transport more reliable and accessible remains an important priority for residents in Worcestershire.
“We also want walking, cycling and wheeling to become natural, convenient and attractive options for everyday journeys, whether that’s getting to school, commuting to work or connecting to a railway station. This latest funding announcement will help us accelerate that work, ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of our communities.”
(Picture: Worcestershire County Council)
