How decisions are made on our maintenance plans
Portsmouth City Council prioritises highway maintenance on the Primary and Secondary Road Network using the Lifecycle Cost Replacement methodology within the Highways PFI contract. Asset condition data, inspection results, safety risks, network hierarchy and whole-life costs are assessed to identify the most cost-effective interventions at the optimum time.
This approach favours planned preventative maintenance over reactive repairs, helping to extend asset life, reduce long-term costs and minimise disruption. Annual condition surveys, performance monitoring and asset management modelling are used to target investment where it delivers the greatest benefit, ensuring an efficient, risk-based service that maintains network safety, resilience and value for money.
Tertiary road maintenance is prioritised using condition survey data, safety inspections, reported defects, collision history and asset risk. Roads with the greatest need and highest risk to users are targeted first according to a risk-based approach and asset management practices. Planned preventative treatments are favoured to extend asset life, reduce reactive repairs and deliver best value, supporting an efficient and sustainable maintenance service.
Maintenance priorities for the Primary and Secondary Road Network are managed through the Portsmouth Highways PFI Contract lifecycle planning and Annual Programme process.
Tertiary Road Network (TRN) resurfacing schemes are prioritised using the approved assessment methodology and delivered through both the Highways PFI Contract and Council capital investment. Council-funded schemes are subject to capital approval processes, with the prioritisation approach most recently approved by Members in 2026.
The Council's asset management approach also considers accessibility, climate resilience, support for sustainable travel, economic connectivity and the protection of strategically important routes serving Portsmouth International Port, His Majesty's Naval Base and the wider city economy. Forward programmes are reviewed regularly and adjusted as condition, risk, operational priorities and available evidence evolve.
This approach has helped maintain a high-performing highway network. In 2025, Portsmouth achieved a Green rating across all categories under the Department for Transport's road maintenance rating system, reflecting the Council's commitment to preventative maintenance, asset management best practice and sustained investment in the highway network.
In addition, an independent study published by Blackcircles in 2026, based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to local authorities across the UK, identified Portsmouth as having the lowest rate of reported potholes relative to network size.