Solihull Council Unveils Extensive Road Resurfacing Initiative for the Coming Year
Solihull Council has detailed an ambitious highways maintenance programme set to transform more than 100 roads across the borough in the upcoming financial year. This comprehensive plan aims to address long-standing infrastructure issues, including the repair of approximately 1,850 potholes, as part of a broader effort to enhance road safety and durability.
Significant Investment in Highway Infrastructure
The council, responsible for maintaining around 600 miles of public highway valued at approximately £1.3 billion, has identified a pressing need for resurfacing. Council officers have reported that the total value of all required schemes has reached a staggering £52 million. To manage this, a scoring matrix has been implemented to prioritise the most critical and high-risk locations where full carriageway resurfacing is essential.
In the latest financial year, extending to 2027, the Highway Asset Management Investment Plan (AMIP) will focus on repairing about 17 miles of roads. Beyond resurfacing, the AMIP encompasses a range of activities, such as inspecting bridges, cleaning gullies, replacing lamps, and upgrading street lights to modern standards.
Funding and Approval Details
The plan is backed by substantial financial resources, with projected revenue funding of just over £8.1 million and assumed capital funding exceeding £20.6 million for the 2026/27 period. Revenue funding is derived from the council's core budget, while capital funding is sourced from various external channels. Councillor Ken Hawkins, the Environment and Infrastructure Cabinet Portfolio Holder, officially approved the funding and plan during a decision session meeting on February 10.
Dean Ward, the authority's Head of Highway Infrastructure, provided an update at the meeting, noting that in the past financial year, ending this March, teams successfully repaired and resurfaced around 16 miles of road. Councillor Hawkins commented on the council's performance, stating, "We know we always do well in relation to public surveys on how people see our road network. There will always be issues we know that, certainly with weather, ice and water – that is the enemy."
Scope and Variability of Resurfacing Work
The resurfacing requirements vary significantly by location, with some areas needing only footpath improvements, while others require full carriageway treatments. It is important to note that proposed treatments are subject to change based on ongoing inspections throughout the year, ensuring that the most urgent needs are addressed promptly.
List of Roads Scheduled for Carriageway Treatment
Below is a breakdown of the 109 roads set to receive carriageway treatment, organised by district area:
- Bickenhill: A452 Kenilworth Road, B4102 Solihull Road, Bickenhill Lane, Coleshill Road, Hatchford Walk, Lime Grove, Station Road service road
- Blythe: Braggs Farm Lane, The Orchards, Thornton Road
- Castle Bromwich: Brownsover Close, Chester Road, Collector Road, Flecknoe Close
- Chelmsley Wood: Brook Farm Walk, Coleshill Heath Road, Forth Drive, Rockmoor Close, Yorkminster Drive
- Dorridge and Hockley Heath: Bridge Meadow Drive, Buckminster Drive, Bushwood Drive, Culverley Crescent, Elbury Croft, Falkwood Grove, Four Ashes Road, Foxbury Drive, Garden Close, Hawkshead Drive, Hintons Coppice, Liveridge Close, Mill Pool Lane, Montsford Close, Moorfield Avenue, Needhill Close, Pool End Close, School Road, Slade Grove, Stratford Road, WillowBank Road, Windmill Lane
- Elmdon: Damson Lane, Hatchford Brook Road, Valley Road
- Knowle: A4141 Warwick Road, Arrow Close, Austrey Close, Bakers Lane, Beausale Drive, Fen End Road, Hampton Road, Kenilworth Road, Longdon Road, Sparrowcock Lane, St Annes Grove, St Lawrence Close, Thorngrove Avenue, Ullenhall Road
- Lyndon: Arundel Crescent, Bablake Croft, Daylesford Road, Highwood Avenue, Hobs Moat Road, Lode Lane
- Meriden: A452 Kenilworth Road roundabout, B4102 Fillongley Road, B4104 Main Road, Barston Lane, Baulk Lane, Burnthurst Crescent, Church Lane, Eastcote Lane, Kingsbrook Drive, Kinwalsey Lane, Laurels Crescent, Leys Lane, Needlers End Lane, Old Green Lane, Old Waste Lane, Oldwich Lane East, Shadowbrook Road
- Olton: Brookvale Road, Dovehouse Lane, Hawkswell Close, St Bernards Road, Streetsbrook Road
- Shirley: Foxcote Close, Foxcote Drive, Oakenshaw Road
- Shirley East: Binton Road, Cropthorne Road, Hawkesbury Road, Lindridge Road, Stratford Road rear service road
- Shirley West: Colebrook Road, Kingshurst Road, Yardley Wood Road
- Silhill: Caldwell Grove, Timmins Close
- Smith’s Wood: Auckland Drive, Laburnum Avenue
- St Alphege: Alderminster Road, Greyhurst Croft, Rectory Gardens, Streetsbrook Road
This initiative underscores Solihull Council's commitment to improving local infrastructure and ensuring safer, more reliable travel for residents and visitors alike.
