Guidance on new road condition surveys pushed back to next summer

07/07/2023 | CHRIS AMES

The Department for Transport's (DfT) guidance on the new regime for local authority road condition surveys is delayed until next summer at the earliest, a DfT official has said.

The three-month delay is a result of a trial being carried out at a county council, the DfT’s head of road network statistics, Laura Murphy, told an audience of local authority highway officials.

The department announced in 2021 that it would allow local highway authorities to choose their own surveying technology for road condition monitoring and introduce a new data standard.

Local highway authorities are required to submit road condition data annually to the DfT, which currently prescribes that it be collected using Surface Condition Assessment for the National Network of Roads (SCANNER) survey vehicles (pictured).

However, the DfT has said that this provides barriers to new suppliers in the sector, which discourages innovation. In future, highway authorities will be able to use any accredited technology that conforms to the standard.

Ms Murphy said the DfT did not intend to abandon SCANNER but open up the market.

The new regime will also change how authorities report road condition. Where they currently report the percentage of roads that should be considered for maintenance (red), with some also choosing to report amber and green categories, in future, authorities will report their percentages of roads in five categories.

It was initially thought that a new regime could be brought in for the current financial year but the most recent timetable would have seen new DfT guidance published by April next year with the new regime fully adopted from April 2026

Ms Murphy said the guidance would now be issued around July 2024, which the DfT believes is a realistic publication date.

A survey van operated by Gaist, one of the (relatively) new market entrants

The news follows the decision to undertake a road trial in conjunction with Surrey County Council and TRL, which the DfT decided was ‘vital research to make a standard that has value and is widely used by stakeholders’.

The trial will use parts of the Surrey road network to trial different technologies against the new standard. The transport research body has been working with the council to design a varied sample of roads to survey.

Authorities will collect data in line with current requirements during the current financial year but from April 2024 to March 2026 the DfT will begin operating a ‘dual run’, which will allow suppliers and asset management software developers time to prepare for the switch and allow the department to begin to assess the impact of the standard on the data.

Under the dual run, the DfT will still send out the annual survey with the option to provide data under the current SCANNER red, amber green standard and/or based on the new categorisation.

Ms Murphy stressed that this will not require multiple surveys or additional costs to authorities but will instead be for suppliers to present data in the old and new ways.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Director of Transport

£112,924
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is on a bold journey. East Midlands Region
Recruiter: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Ferry Host - WMF3049i

£25,584 - £25,992
Ferry Host - WMF3049i Windermere, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Director of Streetscene

£94,972 - £108,767
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recruiter: Fareham Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recruiter: Liverpool City Council

Roadworker/Driver

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Chargehand (2 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for experienced Project Chargehands to be part of the Highways Construction Services team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Professional Services Partnering Manager to lead the strategic management Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technical Supervision Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Supervision Manager to lead our technical supervision teams within the Highways Service. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Lighting Electrician (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (pay award pending)
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Inspector/NRSWA

£36,345 - £40,344
We are looking for an organised and self-motivated individual to join our Streetworks Team based in Hackney Central. Hackney, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Hackney Council

Structures Commissioner

Grade 14 £53,166 - £59,080 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as the Structures Commissioner. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader Network Co-ordination

£51,429 - £58,140
As Team Leader for Network Coordination, you’ll manage a team that oversees all works and events on our public highways. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater)
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW