Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
amberOverall|amber Conditiongreen Spendred Best Practice
Enfield: Preventative Spend Collapsed From 72% to 25%
Enfield Council projects £3.0m capital spend against a £1.007m DfT allocation and earns a GREEN spend scorecard. Yet the DfT rates its best practice RED — because Enfield's own report shows preventative maintenance falling from 72% in 2021/22 to a projected 25% in 2025/26, carriageway resurfacing down to 3.77km per year, and the council admitting that maintenance of B, C and unclassified roads has declined.
75%
Reactive maintenance in 2025/26
Enfield's own projected split — 25% preventative, 75% reactive. The DfT best practice scorecard is RED for a reason: this is a patch-first programme on London's 7th-largest road network.
Why Best Practice Is RED
The DfT's best practice scorecard is Enfield's weakest rating — and the council's own spending table explains why
“Enfield's 25/26 Highway Maintenance programme is split 25% preventative works to 75% reactive works.”
— Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
| Year | DfT allocation | Capital spend | Revenue spend | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £0 | £7.18m | £609k | 69% | 31% |
| 2021/22 | £0 | £8.60m | £616k | 72% | 28% |
| 2022/23 | £0 | £8.71m | £617k | 70% | 30% |
| 2023/24 | £310k | £4.33m | £659k | 42% | 58% |
| 2024/25 | £310k | £3.69m | £727k | 32% | 68% |
| 2025/26 (proj.) | £1.007m | £3.0m | £733k | 25% | 75% |
Preventative and reactive percentages are Enfield's own estimates. The council notes that for these calculations, all revenue spend is assumed reactive (road markings, defects, drainage, surveys, pumping stations, bridge repairs and street furniture).
The Resurfacing Collapse
Planned carriageway resurfacing has fallen sharply — even as the council lists AI condition surveys as the basis for prioritisation:
| Year | Resurfacing (km) | Surface treatment (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 12.5 | 0 |
| 2021/22 | 11.32 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | 9.43 | 4.27 |
| 2023/24 | 5.18 | 0 |
| 2024/25 | 3.77 | 1.72 |
Resurfacing has fallen 70% since 2020/21. For 2025/26, the council plans just 1.1km of carriageway resurfacing plus 2.24km of surface treatment on a 584km network — less than 0.6% of total road length.
Reactive First, Prevent Later
Enfield's spending logic puts patching ahead of prevention:
“To ensure this duty is fulfilled and the network is fit for purpose funding for this smaller capital/ reactive maintenance is allocated first. Remaining funds are then allocated to preventative maintenance which can be used to target those areas of the network which require increased reactive funding due to higher levels of deterioration.”
— Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
A council that formally prioritises reactive repairs before preventative works is running the opposite of a “predict and prevent” programme — whatever its asset-management rhetoric says.
GREEN Spend, RED Process
£1.007m
DfT capital allocation 2025/26
£3.0m
Projected capital spend 2025/26
25%
Projected preventative share
Enfield spends nearly triple its DfT allocation — and the DfT still rates its best practice RED. The money is there. The preventative programme is not.
What The Condition Data Shows
Five years of survey data from Enfield's own transparency report — A-roads broadly stable, B and C roads slipping, U-roads persistently in double-digit RED
Network size (584km total)
67km
A roads (11.5%)
53km
B and C roads (9.1%)
464km
U roads (79.5%)
7th
Largest network in London
Enfield has the 4th largest principal road network in London. Most of the borough's roads — nearly four-fifths — are unclassified residential streets, closes and cul-de-sacs.
A-roads (67km): broadly stable
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4% | 22% | 73% |
| 2021 | 4% | 18% | 78% |
| 2022 | 3% | 14% | 82% |
| 2023 | 6% | 25% | 70% |
| 2024 | 3% | 22% | 75% |
A-road data is collected yearly. Enfield redirected its own capital to maintain these heaviest-trafficked routes — but the council admits that came at the cost of B, C and unclassified roads.
B and C roads (53km): declining
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6% | 23% | 71% |
| 2021 | 6% | 23% | 71% |
| 2022 | 9% | 24% | 68% |
| 2023 | 8% | 29% | 63% |
| 2024 | 8% | 28% | 65% |
RED-condition B and C roads rose from 6% to 8% since 2020. Good-condition roads fell from 71% to 65%, and amber roads climbed to 28–29%. Over a third of the B and C network now needs — or will soon need — maintenance.
U-roads (464km): persistent RED
| Year | U-roads in RED condition |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 12% |
| 2021 | 10% |
| 2022 | 14% |
| 2023 | 15% |
| 2024 | 12% |
At 12% in 2024, roughly 56km of Enfield's residential network was in RED condition — roads that the council's own classification says “should be considered for maintenance.” The figure has sat between 10% and 15% for five straight years.
The A-Road Priority Admission
Enfield's own explanation for why local roads lost out — in its own words
“Prior to 2018/19 Enfield was in receipt of approximately £1m funding each year to support the maintenance of their A-Road network. Since then, this external funding has reduced significantly while deterioration of the network has continued. In order to address this deterioration Enfield has invested it's own capital funding in the maintenance of A-Roads the result of which is levels of maintenance to the B, C and unclassified network have declined.”
— Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
“In addition to funding variations the recent introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Enfield effectively keeps traffic on the classified A, B & C network and has reduced the use of the Unclassified (local road) network. As more schemes are introduced to the Borough it remains to be seen how this will affect road conditions moving forward.”
— Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What This Admission Means
Enfield formally acknowledges it redirected capital from B, C and unclassified roads to prop up A-roads after external funding dried up. That is documented knowledge that local road maintenance was deliberately deprioritised.
For claims on residential streets — 79.5% of the network — ask whether a council that admits declining U-road maintenance had a reasonable system in place for your specific defect.
The LTN Traffic Shift
Enfield also notes that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods keep traffic on classified A, B and C roads while reducing use of unclassified routes — but says it remains to be seen how this will affect conditions.
If your pothole was on a classified road near an LTN boundary, increased traffic displacement is a relevant factor for what a reasonable inspection frequency looks like.
13,051 Potholes in Five Years
The scale of reactive repair on London's 7th-largest road network
| Year | Potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 3,117 |
| 2021/22 | 1,865 |
| 2022/23 | 2,202 |
| 2023/24 | 3,241 |
| 2024/25 | 2,626 |
| Five-year total | 13,051 |
~7 Potholes a Day, Every Day
Averaged over five years, Enfield fills around seven potholes per day across its 584km network. The council expects 2025/26 repairs to remain “somewhere around 2500-2800” if winter weather is mild — confirming reactive repair as the default.
Defect Response Times
Enfield repairs carriageway and footway defects on 2-hour/emergency, 24-hour, 7-day or 28-day schedules depending on severity. Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 requires the network to be maintained in a condition safe for users — the question is whether your defect was caught within those windows, or left to worsen.
AI Surveys vs Reactive Reality
Enfield invests in technology — but the maintenance programme does not always follow
“Enfield were one of the early adopters of AI road surveying technology. Investing in this has enabled us to monitor the entirety of our network on a yearly basis including unclassified roads. With full oversight of network conditions prioritisation of spend can be more objective.”
— Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What Enfield Does Well
- • Yearly AI survey of the entire 584km network, including all 464km of U-roads
- • Risk-based safety inspections from monthly to yearly depending on traffic and footfall
- • PAS2161-accredited survey supplier — ahead of the 2026/27 mandatory switch
- • Innovation partnerships: in-situ recycling, waste plastics in asphalt, mastic patching
The Gap Between Data and Action
- • U-road RED condition stuck at 10–15% for five years despite yearly AI surveys
- • Preventative spend collapsed from 72% to a projected 25%
- • Carriageway resurfacing down 70% — 12.5km to 3.77km per year
- • No AI equivalent for footways yet — visual inspections only
Why This Matters For Section 58
Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, a council can defend a claim if it proves it took such care as was reasonable to see the road was not dangerous. For Enfield, ask:
- • If AI surveys show 12% of U-roads in RED every year, what was done about your road?
- • If preventative maintenance is just 25%, was your defect a predictable failure on a known-deteriorating route?
- • Were there prior reports (FixMyStreet, council defect reports) before your incident?
- • Does the council's admission of declining B, C and U-road maintenance cover your location?
- • For footway claims: the council admits there is no borough-wide AI footway survey yet
A council cannot claim it did not know — then show it knew and chose reactive patching anyway.
Claiming Against a GREEN-Spend, RED-Practice Council
Honest assessment: Enfield is not Derbyshire — here's how that changes your approach
What Works In The Council's Favour
- ✓ GREEN spend scorecard — projected capital nearly triple the £1.007m DfT allocation
- ✓ Yearly AI survey of the entire network, including all unclassified roads
- ✓ A-road condition broadly stable at 75% green in 2024
- ✓ Documented risk-based inspection regime and Well-managed Highway Infrastructure code compliance
- ✓ Genuine innovation track record — recycling, waste plastics, PAS2161-accredited surveys
Expect a structured Section 58 defence citing AI surveys and inspection records. Generic claims will struggle.
What Works In Yours
- ✗ RED best practice — DfT's official verdict on preventative maintenance and treatment
- ✗ Preventative spend collapsed from 72% to 25% in four years
- ✗ Council admits B, C and U-road maintenance has declined
- ✗ 12–15% of 464km U-roads in RED for five straight years
- ✗ 13,051 pothole repairs in five years — reactive patching as default
- ✗ Just 1.1km resurfacing planned for 2025/26 on a 584km network
The Winning Strategy Here Is Specificity
Against a council with GREEN spend and yearly AI surveys, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (FixMyStreet, council defect reports) — proof of actual notice
- • Photos showing the defect's size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — on a U-road, the council's own admission of declining maintenance is your strongest structural argument
- • The gap between AI survey data and the 25% preventative programme — knowing vs doing
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites Enfield's own transparency data where it helps you.
Hit a Pothole in Enfield?
A council with AI surveys and GREEN spend still demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No RED best practice argument
- • No B/C/U decline admission cited
- • No prior-report search
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ 75% reactive / RED best practice documented
- ✅ B, C and U-road decline admission cited
- ✅ 13,051 pothole repairs in five years referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Enfield
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enfield outspends its DfT allocation — can I still claim?
Yes. The DfT Spend scorecard is GREEN because Enfield's projected 2025/26 capital spend of £3.0m exceeds its £1.007m DfT allocation. But your claim turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired under Section 58 — not on aggregate spending. Enfield's overall rating is AMBER because condition is AMBER and best practice is RED: the council's own report projects just 25% preventative maintenance in 2025/26, down from 72% in 2021/22.
What does Enfield's RED best practice rating mean for my claim?
The DfT best practice scorecard measures preventative maintenance, treatment of deteriorating roads, and adoption of efficient repair methods. Enfield's own transparency report shows preventative spend falling from 72% in 2021/22 to a projected 25% in 2025/26, carriageway resurfacing dropping from 12.5km to 3.77km per year, and the council admitting that maintenance of B, C and unclassified roads has declined. That is an official admission of a predominantly reactive programme — which strengthens arguments that defects can form and worsen between inspections.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
U-roads make up 464km — 79.5% of Enfield's 584km network. At the latest AI survey, 12% of U-roads were in RED condition — roughly 56km of residential streets, closes and cul-de-sacs. The council admits levels of maintenance to the B, C and unclassified network have declined as it redirected capital to A-roads. If your defect was on a U-road, that admission and the 12–15% RED range over five years are directly relevant to Section 58.
Enfield surveys the whole network yearly with AI — does that weaken my claim?
Not automatically. Enfield is an early adopter of yearly AI road surveying across its entire network, including unclassified roads — which is stronger than many London boroughs. But survey data is only useful if it drives timely treatment. The council's own figures show U-road RED condition at 12–15% for five years, preventative maintenance collapsing to 25%, and just 1.1km of carriageway resurfacing planned for 2025/26. Knowing a road is deteriorating without preventing defects is not the same as a reasonable maintenance system for the pothole that damaged your vehicle.
Does the shift from 72% to 25% preventative maintenance matter for Section 58?
Yes. Enfield's own report states its 2025/26 programme is split 25% preventative to 75% reactive works, with all revenue spend assumed reactive. The council also notes that funding for reactive maintenance is allocated first, with remaining funds then going to preventative works. A council that formally prioritises patching over prevention cannot easily argue it took reasonable steps to stop defects forming — especially where prior reports or photos show a pothole worsening over time.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Enfield Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (25 June 2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Reusable evidence record
Council rating evidence and provenance
Rating period: 2025-2026 · Reviewed 19 July 2026
Observed DfT fact
Overall AMBER; condition AMBER; spend GREEN; best practice RED.
Cautious interpretation
This is network-level context. The rating does not determine liability for a particular incident or establish what was known about a specific defect.
Correction status: No correction recorded.