Brighton Council Invests £8.8m in Roads as It Rejects 'Worst in England' Claim
Brighton and Hove City Council is investing £8.8 million in roads and pavements this year, whilst rejecting recent claims that the city has the worst roads in England.
Council challenges worst roads claims
Brighton and Hove City Council has rejected recent headlines labelling the city's roads as the worst in England, arguing that improved roads are already visible across the city. The council points to a major resurfacing programme affecting major routes and residential streets.
Council leader Cllr Trevor Muten said the claims "certainly don't reflect the experience of residents who are starting to see long-awaited improvements delivered on the ground".
Data methods explain difference
The council says the claims are based on a single measure: the condition of A-roads. It argues that its own assessment uses a more detailed approach to monitoring road condition than many authorities, identifying problems earlier and collecting more information about the network.
If Brighton and Hove reported its road condition data using the same SCANNER methodology used by many local authorities, the proportion of A-roads requiring structural repair in 2025/26 would be around 8%, broadly in line with many councils across the country, the council states.
Unclassified roads tell different story
A-roads make up only a small part of Brighton and Hove's overall network. Around 79 per cent of the city's roads are unclassified local roads, accounting for some 482 kilometres of highway. These are the residential streets and neighbourhood routes that residents use daily.
For these unclassified roads, around 8 per cent require structural maintenance, compared with a national average of approximately 14 per cent.
£8.8m investment planned
This year, the council is investing £8.8 million in roads, pavements and transport infrastructure across the city. The programme includes resurfacing roads, repairing potholes, improving pavements and upgrading infrastructure to make travel easier and safer.
The council says it has received increased government funding over the past two years and has developed better technology and more detailed information about road conditions. Rather than focusing solely on roads that have already failed, the council says it is putting greater emphasis on prevention.
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