In this section: Public services
Swindon: roads, potholes and roadworks
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
£6m for Swindon in 2025-26, £22.83 per resident, +30.2% on a year earlier after inflation. It spent £7,876 a mile on road maintenance from its revenue budget in 2025-26. In 2024-25, 4% of its A roads and 5% of its B and C roads needed maintenance to be considered (England: 5% and 7%).
Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Key figures
- £6m2025-26, cash +33.3% on a year earlier
- £22.83Per resident, 2025-26
- £7,876Road maintenance spending per mile, 2025-26 England: £6,923
- 4%A roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 England: 5%
- 5%B and C roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 England: 7%
Sources: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport.
Over time: cash, real terms and per resident
Real terms use HM Treasury’s GDP deflator, 2025-26 prices.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Cash |
|---|---|---|
2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £3.6m | £3.3m |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £4.3m | £4.2m |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £5.6m | £5.6m |
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Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population estimates.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Per resident, 2025-26 prices | Per resident, cash |
|---|---|---|
2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £15 | £14 |
| ||
2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £18 | £17 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £23 | £23 |
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Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set, published 28 September 2026.
The roads it looks after
Swindon is the highway authority for 518 miles of road (DfT road lengths, 2025): every road except motorways and trunk A roads, which National Highways runs.
DfT rated its road maintenance Amber for 2025-26 (condition Amber, spending Amber, best practice Amber). Its highways maintenance transparency report sets out its maintenance work.
| Year | Allocation | Per mile of road |
|---|---|---|
2022-23Details for 2022-23 | £3,496,000 | £6,749 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £3,937,000 | £7,600 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £3,937,000 | £7,600 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £5,762,790 | £11,125 |
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2026-27Details for 2026-27 | £5,972,000 | £11,529 |
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2027-28Details for 2027-28 | £7,009,000 | £13,531 |
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2028-29Details for 2028-29 | £7,557,000 | £14,589 |
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2029-30Details for 2029-30 | £8,639,000 | £16,678 |
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Source: Department for Transport, Road lengths in Great Britain: RDL0102, road length (miles) by road type and local authority; Department for Transport, Local road maintenance ratings 2025-26, published 11 January 2026; Department for Transport, Highways maintenance funding allocations, published 14 April 2026.
Where it sits, and what is below it
- UK total
- Nation
- Department or service body
- Local body (this level)
- Spending category
- Line or transaction not published
Swindon
Net revenue spending on road maintenance, winter service and street lighting. Traffic management is left out because its net figure is after parking and bus lane enforcement income. Capital spending, which pays for most resurfacing, is not included.
£6m in 2025-26 (cash); £6m in 2025-26 prices; £22.83 per resident; +33.3% on a year earlier in cash, +30.2% in real terms.
| Spending category | Cash, 2025-26 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Routine and reactive maintenanceDetails for Routine and reactive maintenance | £4m | £4m | £15.90 | +34.5% | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | Line or transaction not published: Individual schemes, contracts and repairs are not published in the national returns. English councils publish every payment over £500, which the site’s council spending pages search. |
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Street lightingDetails for Street lighting | £1m | £1m | £5.30 | +8.3% | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | Line or transaction not published: Individual schemes, contracts and repairs are not published in the national returns. English councils publish every payment over £500, which the site’s council spending pages search. |
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Winter service (gritting)Details for Winter service (gritting) | £0m | £0m | £1.22 | — | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | Line or transaction not published: Individual schemes, contracts and repairs are not published in the national returns. English councils publish every payment over £500, which the site’s council spending pages search. |
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Structural maintenanceDetails for Structural maintenance | £0m | £0m | £0.41 | 0.0% | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | Line or transaction not published: Individual schemes, contracts and repairs are not published in the national returns. English councils publish every payment over £500, which the site’s council spending pages search. |
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Cash is as published. Real terms are in 2025-26 prices, using HM Treasury’s GDP deflator. Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population for the area the body serves. Changes compare the same body in consecutive years.
What is recorded alongside the money
These figures are published beside the funding, not as its result. Demand, geography, recording practice and many other things differ between areas and change over time; none of these charts shows cause and effect.
| Measure | Swindon | England | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
Road maintenance spending per mileDetails for Road maintenance spending per mile | £7,876 | £6,923 | 2025-26 |
| |||
A roads where maintenance should be consideredDetails for A roads where maintenance should be considered | 4% | 5% | 2024-25 |
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B and C roads where maintenance should be consideredDetails for B and C roads where maintenance should be considered | 5% | 7% | 2024-25 |
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Unclassified roads where maintenance should be consideredDetails for Unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered | 11% | 17% | 2024-25 |
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DfT maintenance grant per mileDetails for DfT maintenance grant per mile | £16,678 | £14,847 | 2029-30 |
| |||
A roads treated in the yearDetails for A roads treated in the year | 5.3% | 5.8% | 2024-25 |
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B, C and unclassified roads treated in the yearDetails for B, C and unclassified roads treated in the year | 0.9% | 2.9% | 2024-25 |
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Preventative treatment as a share of all treatmentDetails for Preventative treatment as a share of all treatment | 18.6% | 66.5% | 2024-25 |
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Structural share of maintenance spendingDetails for Structural share of maintenance spending | 3.5% | 36.6% | 2025-26 |
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Share of days of roadworks caused by utilitiesDetails for Share of days of roadworks caused by utilities | 78.9% | 63.9% | 2026-08 |
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Roadworks finishing after their permit end dateDetails for Roadworks finishing after their permit end date | 6.1% | 2.2% | 2026-08 |
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Roadworks on site per 100 miles of roadDetails for Roadworks on site per 100 miles of road | 82.4 per 100 miles | 99.7 per 100 miles | 2026-08 |
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Road maintenance spending per residentDetails for Road maintenance spending per resident | £16.63 | £21.64 | 2025-26 |
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Spending on roads per mileDetails for Spending on roads per mile | £10,811 | £10,846 | 2025-26 |
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The highway authority’s net revenue spending on road maintenance (structural and routine) divided by the miles of road it looks after (locally managed A roads and all minor roads, DfT RDL0102, latest year). Net revenue spending from the council’s own return (MHCLG revenue outturn in England, StatsWales in Wales, Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics in Scotland). It leaves out capital spending, which pays for most resurfacing and is funded mainly by government grant, and it is after income such as recharges; the nations’ returns differ in what is netted off, so compare councils within a nation.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £5,996 | £6,313 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £5,618 | £6,196 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £7,876 | £6,923 |
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Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Share of the council’s A roads and motorways in the red category, where maintenance should be considered, from machine surveys (DfT RDC0120). England only. Survey methods changed from 2024-25 as councils moved to a new measure, so recent years are not fully comparable with earlier ones. Breaks in the series: 2024-25: From 2024-25 councils began moving to a new condition survey standard; some councils’ figures changed sharply as a result.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 2% | 5% |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 1% | 5% |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 2% | 5% |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 2% | 5% |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 2% | 5% |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 1% | 5% |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 1% | 4% |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 1% | 4% |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 1% | 3% |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 2% | 3% |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 2% | 3% |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 2% | 3% |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 3% | 4% |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 2% | 4% |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 3% | 4% |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 2% | 4% |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 3% | 4% |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 4% | 5% |
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Figure as of 21 January 2026. Source: Department for Transport.
Share of the council’s B and C roads in the red category (DfT RDC0120). England only. Breaks in the series: 2024-25: From 2024-25 councils began moving to a new condition survey standard; some councils’ figures changed sharply as a result.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 4% | 8% |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 5% | 9% |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 4% | 9% |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 4% | 10% |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 4% | 10% |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 5% | 9% |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 4% | 8% |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 4% | 7% |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 3% | 6% |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 3% | 6% |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 3% | 6% |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 4% | 6% |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 4% | 6% |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 4% | 7% |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 4% | 6% |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 4% | 7% |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 5% | 7% |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 5% | 7% |
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Figure as of 21 January 2026. Source: Department for Transport.
Share of the council’s unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered (DfT RDC0130). Councils survey these roads in different ways, many by eye, so DfT advises against comparing councils closely on this measure. England only. Breaks in the series: 2024-25: From 2024-25 councils began moving to a new condition survey standard; some councils’ figures changed sharply as a result.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2007-08Details for 2007-08 | 8% | 15% |
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2008-09Details for 2008-09 | 13% | 15% |
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2009-10Details for 2009-10 | 19% | 15% |
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2010-11Details for 2010-11 | 9% | 16% |
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2011-12Details for 2011-12 | 16% | 17% |
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2012-13Details for 2012-13 | 15% | 18% |
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2013-14Details for 2013-14 | 15% | 18% |
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2014-15Details for 2014-15 | 12% | 18% |
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2015-16Details for 2015-16 | 8% | 16% |
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2016-17Details for 2016-17 | 8% | 17% |
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2017-18Details for 2017-18 | 9% | 16% |
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2018-19Details for 2018-19 | 10% | 16% |
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2019-20Details for 2019-20 | 8% | 15% |
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2020-21Details for 2020-21 | 9% | 17% |
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2021-22Details for 2021-22 | 9% | 16% |
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2022-23Details for 2022-23 | 9% | 16% |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | 13% | 17% |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | 11% | 17% |
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Figure as of 21 January 2026. Source: Department for Transport.
The DfT highways maintenance allocation divided by the miles of road the authority looks after. England only, outside mayoral combined authority areas.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2022-23Details for 2022-23 | £6,749 | £6,566 |
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2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £7,600 | £6,796 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £7,600 | £6,796 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £11,125 | £9,854 |
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2026-27Details for 2026-27 | £11,529 | £10,351 |
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2027-28Details for 2027-28 | £13,531 | £12,004 |
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2028-29Details for 2028-29 | £14,589 | £12,988 |
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2029-30Details for 2029-30 | £16,678 | £14,847 |
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Figure as of 14 April 2026. Source: Department for Transport.
Of works finished in the month, the share that finished on a later day than the end date on their permit. A permit can be extended by agreement, so not every late finish is an unauthorised overrun or leads to a charge. England only (Street Manager).
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2026-02Details for 2026-02 | 2.6% | 2.0% |
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2026-03Details for 2026-03 | 0.3% | 1.9% |
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2026-04Details for 2026-04 | 1.9% | 1.9% |
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2026-05Details for 2026-05 | 3.3% | 1.9% |
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2026-06Details for 2026-06 | 7.5% | 1.9% |
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2026-07Details for 2026-07 | 9.0% | 2.0% |
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2026-08Details for 2026-08 | 6.1% | 2.2% |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Department for Transport.
Works on site in the month per 100 miles of road the authority looks after. England only (Street Manager, DfT RDL0102).
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2026-02Details for 2026-02 | 83.4 | 119.8 |
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2026-03Details for 2026-03 | 78.8 | 130.2 |
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2026-04Details for 2026-04 | 81.3 | 113.3 |
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2026-05Details for 2026-05 | 66.0 | 107.0 |
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2026-06Details for 2026-06 | 70.5 | 94.8 |
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2026-07Details for 2026-07 | 89.4 | 115.8 |
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2026-08Details for 2026-08 | 82.4 | 99.7 |
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Figure as of unknown date. Source: Department for Transport.
Net revenue spending on road maintenance per resident (ONS mid-year estimates). Net revenue spending from the council’s own return (MHCLG revenue outturn in England, StatsWales in Wales, Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics in Scotland). It leaves out capital spending, which pays for most resurfacing and is funded mainly by government grant, and it is after income such as recharges; the nations’ returns differ in what is netted off, so compare councils within a nation.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £12.94 | £20.14 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £11.96 | £19.41 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £16.63 | £21.64 |
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Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Net revenue spending on road maintenance, winter service (gritting) and street lighting per mile of road the authority looks after. Net revenue spending from the council’s own return (MHCLG revenue outturn in England, StatsWales in Wales, Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics in Scotland). It leaves out capital spending, which pays for most resurfacing and is funded mainly by government grant, and it is after income such as recharges; the nations’ returns differ in what is netted off, so compare councils within a nation.
The numbers behind this chart
| Year | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
2023-24Details for 2023-24 | £6,371 | £10,580 |
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2024-25Details for 2024-25 | £8,108 | £10,289 |
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2025-26Details for 2025-26 | £10,811 | £10,846 |
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Figure as of 28 September 2026. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Roadworks in August 2026
| Measure | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|
Works startedDetails for Works started | 363 | 163,028 |
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On site in the monthDetails for On site in the month | 427 | 185,759 |
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Share started by utilitiesDetails for Share started by utilities | 82.9% | 66.7% |
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Share of days on site caused by utilitiesDetails for Share of days on site caused by utilities | 78.9% | 63.9% |
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Finished after their permit end dateDetails for Finished after their permit end date | 6.1% | 2.2% |
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Average length, daysDetails for Average length, days | 4.9 days | 3.5 days |
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From Street Manager, DfT’s permit system for works on England’s roads. “On site in the month” counts works that started, finished or were updated in the month; it is the latest month published, not today. England’s figures include National Highways’ and Transport for London’s roads.
Source: Department for Transport, Street Manager open data: archived permit notifications.
What these figures do and don't show
- Neither fuel duty nor vehicle excise duty is earmarked for roads. Both go into the Consolidated Fund with almost every other tax. Motoring taxes and road spending are shown side by side, not as what one paid for.
- Council figures are revenue spending only. Most resurfacing is capital spending, paid for mainly by the Department for Transport’s grant, which is shown separately as an allocation. Net figures are after income, and each nation’s return nets off different things, so compare councils within a nation.
- Condition, treatment, ratings and roadworks are England only. Scotland and Wales publish road condition through their own council performance frameworks, not read here; Street Manager covers England.
- Condition is shown beside money, not as its result. Weather, traffic, the age of the network and survey methods all move the figures, and councils began moving to a new survey standard in 2024-25.
- Pothole numbers and compensation are not collected by government. The figures here come from an industry survey (ALARM) and from Freedom of Information compilations, each named; councils outside a compilation have no figure.
- Roadworks counts are what Street Manager records. “On site in the month” counts works that started, finished or were updated in the latest full month published, not works on the road today, and misses long works with no update.
Where this sits: United Kingdom → England → Local roads: county and unitary councils, metropolitan districts and London boroughs → Swindon. Figures from data/services/roads.json, generated 29 September 2026.
Use this data
The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in Sources for this page; most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence. Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under CC BY 4.0: reuse them, including commercially, if you credit Tekstak Ltd and link back to this page.
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Sources for this page
| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 28 September 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Road condition statistics: data tables (RDC0120, RDC0130, RDC0201, RDC0310, RDC0320, RDC0321) | Department for Transport | 21 January 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Highways maintenance funding allocations | Department for Transport | 14 April 2026 | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Street Manager open data: archived permit notifications | Department for Transport | — | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.