The City of Wolverhampton Council in the West Midlands has set aside £10 million in its 2026/27 Highways Capital Programme, according to early February 2026 reporting, to tackle the city’s deteriorating road network and potholes. The funding is part of a wider plan to make local streets safer for drivers and to reduce vehicle damage caused by deep holes in the road. The project aims to address thousands of road issues that have built up over the winter months.
The money will fund a programme of resurfacing and surface-treatment works on major routes such as Cannock Road and Penn Road, rather than relying solely on reactive patching. The council’s programme aims to address a backlog of more than 7,500 identified defects, with work scheduled in the 2026/27 financial year (beginning April 2026).
This commitment represents an increase on recent years’ highways budgets and follows external surveys showing high pothole rates — GoCompare’s data previously put Wolverhampton at about 18 potholes per mile of road. Local officials say that investing in longer-lasting surfacing now should save the council money in the long term by preventing deeper structural damage. The programme focuses on the busiest routes to help the largest number of residents and commuters.
Funding for the works comes from a mix of the council’s own capital budget and grants from regional transport bodies, including support from the West Midlands Combined Authority via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). By targeting the worst-hit locations and using data-led surveying to prioritise work, the council says it expects to reduce the number of compensation claims from motorists for damage to tyres or suspension. The repairs form part of the council’s wider strategy to keep communities well-connected and safe for travel.
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