A coalition of leading trade bodies representing the roads and highways maintenance sectors in England has called on the government to introduce five-year budgets for local roads as part of its upcoming Spending Review.

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), the Mineral Products Association (MPA), the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), have jointly written to chancellor Rachel Reeves to argue for the introduction of five-year funding cycles to the roads sector to maximise efficiency, drive innovation and provide long-term certainty for the industry.

ACE chief executive, Kate Jennings, said: “A five-year funding cycle will enable long-term, strategic decisions about road maintenance and improvement.

“Much needed funding visibility will enable business to plan ahead - unlocking investment, job creation, drive skills development, innovation and maximise efficiencies.

“Ultimately contributing to economic growth through more resilient, future-proof infrastructure.”

CECA director of operations, Marie-Claude Hemming, added: “The roads network is the backbone of the economy and is a vital catalyst for growth.

“Moving to a five-year funding cycle will provide local authorities with the visibility needed to plan ahead effectively and allow companies working in the sector to unlock efficiencies, foster innovation, and deliver to better outcomes for millions of road users.

“Should the government work with industry to implement five-year funding cycles, we believe it will see increased returns on this investment in terms of growth, job creation, and the economic multipliers a world-class, future-ready roads network will deliver.”

Robert McIlveen, senior director, communications and public affairs at the MPA, added: “Local authorities need more certainty over their highways budgets to enable them to focus on long-term, proactive maintenance and reduce the number of potholes forming in the first place.

“A five-year funding commitment would deliver better value for money and better roads.”

Lyle Andrew, chief executive of the Institute of Highways Engineers, said long-term funding would allow employers and training providers to “plan strategically, ensuring skills provision meets industry demand”.

“Stable, long-term funding would also create stronger partnerships between employers, professional bodies, and training institutions, resulting in a workforce capable of meeting evolving infrastructure needs,” he added.

“By implementing five-year funding commitments, the government would enable businesses to invest in upskilling their workforce with confidence, ensuring the UK’s engineering sector remains resilient and capable of delivering critical transport and infrastructure projects.”