- South East England has repaired more potholes than any other region: over 752,000 in just three years
- One local authority alone repaired over 500,000 potholes
- Year-on-year repair volumes rose 30.8% from 2022 to 2023, and 1.3% from 2023 to 2024
New analysis by CarMats4U.com reveals that more than 4.36 million potholes have been repaired across England between 2022 and 2024 with South East, North West and South west leading the way with the most pothole repairs.
The findings are based on a combination of Freedom of Information requests and the Department for Transport’s Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Reports published in June, showing where local authorities have carried out the most repair work.
| Region | 2022 Total | 2023 Total | 2024 Total | Total (3-Year) |
| East Midlands | 128,149 | 154,965 | 156,376 | 439,490 |
| East of England | 50,931 | 82,636 | 134,756 | 50,931 |
| London | 61,135 | 853,29 | 79,809 | 226,273 |
| North East | 130,299 | 167,724 | 157,084 | 455,107 |
| North West | 176,094 | 233,223 | 239,729 | 641,996 |
| South East | 224,502 | 271,821 | 259,494 | 752,332 |
| South West | 152,514 | 242,674 | 245,123 | 640,311 |
| West Midlands | 118,856 | 150,829 | 145,078 | 414,763 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 162,042 | 185,915 | 178,138 | 526,095 |
| Grand Total | 1,204,522 | 1,575,116 | 1,595,587 | 4,364,690 |
According to the data, the total number of pothole repairs increased by 30.8% from 2022 and 2023, with most councils (118 councils) increasing the numbers of pothole repairs during this period. A smaller number managed to maintain this momentum with only 66 councils increasing the numbers of repairs in 2024 resulting in a 1.3% rise.
This comes just months after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government announced a new £500 million uplift in highway maintenance funding for local authorities in England. The funding is part of a wider £1.6 billion package for 2025/26 and is tied to strict performance reporting. Councils must publicly disclose their pothole repair counts, road condition ratings, and spending breakdowns to access their full allocation.
While the results broadly align with the latest Asphalt Industry Alliance ALARM 2025 report, which estimated 1.9 million potholes were repaired across the UK last year, the latest analysis indicates that England alone may have exceeded those figures. The 2023 ALARM forecast predicted only 1.4 million potholes would be filled across England, suggesting there are more potholes across the country than previously thought.
Jamie Barke, Managing Director of carmats4u.com commented
“It is encouraging to see that councils have been tackling the potholes seriously in recent years. Although, I suspect the problem may only get worse in the future. We’re seeing the effects of hotter summers, heavier rainfalls, and ageing road infrastructure combine to push pothole repairs to record levels.Heat makes roads expand and crack, and the cycle of weather extremes makes the problem worse year after year. For drivers, it’s more important than ever to inspect tyres, drive cautiously on damaged surfaces, and take action early to prevent vehicle damage. Even if it doesn’t damage your car, report any potholes you notice to the local council as soon as you spot them.”
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