What we are doing about potholes and other road defects
What Is a Pothole?
Under the Portsmouth Highways PFI Contract, a defect is a fault or deterioration in the highway that may affect its safe use. Defects can include potholes, surface cracking, uneven surfaces and other forms of damage. A pothole is defined a depression greater than 20mm in depth that is creating, or is likely to create, a hazard.
Highway defects, including potholes, are assessed using a risk-based approach and categorised according to the level of risk they present.
Category 1.1 defects are those posing an immediate or imminent hazard and must be made safe within one hour and permanently repaired within 28 days.
Category 1.2 defects present a potential hazard or risk of rapid deterioration and must be made safe within 24 hours and permanently repaired within 28 days.
Category 2 defects are defects that do not meet the Category 1 criteria. Category 2 defects are prioritised for repair within six months.
What We Are Doing to Tackle Potholes
Portsmouth City Council tackles potholes through a combination of its Highways Asset Management Policy, Highways Asset Management Strategy, risk-based maintenance approach and long-term Highways PFI Contract. Together, these policies and strategies support a preventative, evidence-led approach to highway maintenance, using condition surveys, safety inspections and lifecycle planning to target investment where it will deliver the greatest benefit to network condition, safety and value for money.
During 2025/26, the Council filled 1,349 potholes. Portsmouth's long-term asset management approach focuses on preventative maintenance and planned lifecycle renewals. This helps address deterioration before defects develop into potholes requiring reactive repair. As a result, a significant proportion of defects are resolved through planned maintenance programmes rather than emergency reactive intervention, helping to improve network condition and deliver better long-term value for money.
Wherever it is safe and practical to do so, permanent repairs are prioritised to provide a longer-lasting solution and reduce the need for repeat visits. However, temporary measures may occasionally be required to make a defect safe while permanent repairs are planned and delivered. Category 1 defects remain within their original classification until a permanent repair has been completed.
The Council also invests in preventative maintenance, including resurfacing, surface treatments and structural repairs, to address deterioration before potholes develop. During 2025/26, this included planned maintenance schemes at key sections of the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Road Networks, including major routes such as New Road, Anglesea Road, Market Way and Hope Street, together with local residential roads such as Salisbury Road, Bromyard Crescent Road and many others, helping to improve network condition, extend asset life and reduce the likelihood of potholes forming in the future. This risk-based approach helps maintain a safe and resilient highway network while reducing future reactive maintenance requirements.
How Members of the Public Can Report Potholes and Highway Defects
Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects through Portsmouth City Council's website, the MyPortsmouth app, or by telephone via the Council's customer contact centre. Defects can also be reported directly to the Council's highways maintenance contractor through the Colas website and telephone service. Online reporting allows residents to provide location information and photographs to support assessment.
Reports are logged and reviewed alongside routine highway inspections to help identify and prioritise defects. These multiple reporting routes ensure that residents can report issues easily, including those who do not have access to digital services.
Report a highway defect:
Portsmouth City Council: Report a problem with a pavement
Colas, Portsmouth: Report it form
What Happens After a Pothole Is Reported?
After a defect, such as a pothole, is reported, it is logged within the highways maintenance contractor's asset management system. The defect is risk assessed against the Highways PFI Contract and Safety Defect Guidance, considering factors such as defect type, size, location, road hierarchy and the potential risk to highway users. Defects are then prioritised and categorised as Category 1.1, Category 1.2 or Category 2, with corresponding response and repair times.
Where a defect presents an immediate safety risk, action is taken to make it safe and arrange repair. Lower-risk defects are programmed into planned maintenance works according to priority