Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
redOverall|amber Conditionred Spendred Best Practice
DfT caveat: The Department for Transport flags that Greenwich's 2025/26 overall, condition and best-practice scorecards are based on incomplete road condition data — reflecting gaps in published B/C surveys and no U-road condition breakdown.
59% of Greenwich C-Roads Were RED — Four Years Without an Update
Royal Borough of Greenwich maintains 483km of roads. When B and C roads were last surveyed in 2021/22, 59% of C-roads and 30% of B-roads were in RED (poor) condition — and no subsequent survey data has been published. The other 384km of unclassified roads (79.5% of the network) have no published condition data. The DfT rates Greenwich RED overall, with projected 2025/26 reactive spending at 61.57% — the highest share in five years.
61.57%
Reactive share projected for 2025/26
After reaching 84.21% preventative in 2022/23, Greenwich projected just 38.43% preventative for 2025/26 — reversing a strategy that was working while the council acknowledges “a steady decline to the network”.
483km of Roads — Mostly Unclassified
Network scale from Greenwich's 2025 transparency report — where pothole claims actually happen
483km
Total carriageway
384km
Unclassified (U) roads
79.5% of the network
60km
B and C roads
12.4% of network
39km
A roads
8% — surveyed annually by TfL
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways | 962km |
| Highway structures | 133 |
| Street lighting columns | ~22,000 |
| Drainage gullies | ~20,746 |
“These surveys show that there is a steady decline to the network.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
When 59% Is RED, Where Is the Update?
The last available B and C road condition data (2021/22) — and nothing published since
Data gap caveat: Greenwich's transparency report states “yearly surveys on lesser classed roads resumed in early 2025” and that it is “awaiting data for 24-25 FY, due in July 2025”. After discovering 59% of C-roads and 30% of B-roads in RED condition, no follow-up survey results were published for three years.
B-roads (2021/22 survey)
| Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | 2% | 68% |
Nearly a third of B-roads were in poor condition at the last survey.
C-roads (2021/22 survey)
| Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|
| 59% | 30% | 11% |
Only 11% of C-roads were in good condition — the majority of this road class was poor or deteriorating.
A-roads (39km) — surveyed annually by TfL
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 6% | 19% | 75% |
| 2023/24 | 5% | 23% | 72% |
| 2024/25 | Not yet published | ||
Principal roads remain predominantly green-rated — but the council acknowledges steady decline even on A-roads. TfL maintains red routes separately; Greenwich manages other public highways in the borough.
Unclassified roads (384km) — no published condition data
The transparency report specifies no documented annual inspection schedule for U-roads and publishes no red/amber/green condition breakdown for this road class. Residential streets, estate roads and local access routes — where most Greenwich residents drive daily — sit outside the published condition evidence base.
If 59% of surveyed C-roads were RED when last checked, the condition of the unsurveyed 79.5% remains undocumented — a structural gap the DfT's incomplete-data flag reflects.
Following the Money
RED spend scorecard — preventative share reversed from 84% to 38% in three years
| Year | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 76.76% | 23.24% |
| 2021/22 | 77.15% | 22.85% |
| 2022/23 | 84.21% | 15.79% |
| 2023/24 | 58.53% | 41.47% |
| 2024/25 | 53.76% | 46.24% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | 38.43% | 61.57% |
Capital spending (£000s) — three years at zero
| Year | DfT allocation | Capital spend | km resurfaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £0 | £60 | 6.76 |
| 2021/22 | £0 | £0 | 6.32 |
| 2022/23 | £0 | £0 | 5.95 |
| 2023/24 | £250 | £800 | 6.02 |
| 2024/25 | £250 | £800 | 3.034 |
| 2025/26 (projected) | £813 | £800 | 4.8 (planned) |
Why spend is RED
Three consecutive years of zero capital investment (2021/22–2022/23), total 2024/25 highways spend of £2.83m across 483km of roads (£5,858/km), and projected capital spend of £800k against a DfT allocation of £813k — barely meeting the grant after years of under-investment.
The reversal in numbers
Greenwich reached 84.21% preventative in 2022/23 — then projected 38.43% for 2025/26. The council states a portion of reactive budget was reallocated to resurfacing, but the spending data shows reactive share rising to its highest level in five years.
Fewer Recorded Pothole Fills — Not Fewer Defects
Estimated potholes filled from Greenwich's transparency report — defects costing £200 or less to repair
| Year | Potholes filled | Change vs 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 2,698 | Baseline |
| 2021/22 | 1,792 | −33.6% |
| 2022/23 | 2,543 | −5.7% |
| 2023/24 | 2,161 | −19.9% |
| 2024/25 | 1,083 | −59.9% |
“Royal Greenwich classes potholes as any carriageway defect costing equal or less than £200 to repair.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Resurfacing at 0.6% of the network
Greenwich resurfaced 3.034km in 2024/25 — 0.6% of its 483km network, down from 6.76km in 2020/21 (a 55% decline). At the 2025/26 planned rate of 4.8km (1% of the network), a full network refresh would take roughly 100 years — far beyond typical 15–20 year surface lifespans.
Inspections, Surveys and Section 58
How Greenwich says it knows the condition of its network — and where gaps appear
Survey frequency (transparency report)
- • A roads: annual condition surveys by Transport for London
- • B and C roads: last surveyed 2021/22; yearly surveys resumed early 2025
- • U roads: no documented annual inspection schedule in transparency report
- • 2024/25 condition data: awaited, due July 2025
What “reasonable” means
Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, Greenwich must show a reasonable system for inspecting and repairing the specific defect — not merely cite budget constraints. That requires documented inspections, risk-based prioritisation, timely repairs, and records proving the system was followed.
The burden of proof is on the council: when your road was last inspected, what was found, and why the pothole was not repaired before your incident.
Evidence working against Greenwich
- • Acknowledged “steady decline to the network”
- • 59% of C-roads in RED when last surveyed (2021/22)
- • Four years without published B/C condition data
- • Zero capital investment 2021/22 and 2022/23
- • Reactive spending projected at 61.57% for 2025/26
- • Resurfacing declined 55% (6.76km to 3.034km)
- • 79.5% of network (U-roads) with no published condition data
- • DfT incomplete road condition data flag on scorecards
“Since 2020, the impact of rising construction and material costs has reduced the number of roads that can be resurfaced each year within existing budgets.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What Greenwich Acknowledges
Verbatim admissions from the 2025 transparency report
On network decline
“These surveys show that there is a steady decline to the network.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
On survey resumption
“Yearly surveys on lesser classed roads resumed in early 2025.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
On budget reallocation
“A portion of the reactive maintenance budget has been reallocated to support additional resurfacing work.”
— Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
The spending data tells a different story: preventative share fell from 84.21% (2022/23) to a projected 38.43% (2025/26), with reactive share at its highest in five years.
Claiming Against a RED-Rated Borough
Honest assessment: Greenwich's published data creates structural weaknesses — but your claim still needs specific evidence
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ A-roads predominantly green-rated under annual TfL surveys
- ✓ Preventative spending reached 84.21% in 2022/23 — showing capacity when funded
- ✓ Capital spend resumed from 2023/24 (£800k annually)
- ✓ B/C surveys resumed in early 2025
On A-roads with recent TfL survey data, expect a more prepared Section 58 defence.
What works in yours
- ✗ RED overall, spend and best-practice DfT scorecards
- ✗ 384km of U-roads — 79.5% of network — with no published condition data
- ✗ 59% of C-roads RED at last survey; four-year data gap
- ✗ Zero capital investment 2021/22–2022/23 during network decline
- ✗ Reactive spending projected at 61.57%; resurfacing at five-year low
- ✗ DfT incomplete road condition data flag
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a borough with RED scorecards and a four-year condition data gap, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect and road type:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (FixMyStreet, council portal) — proof of actual notice
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — on a U-road, the absence of published condition data is your strongest structural argument
- • Whether the council can produce inspection records for your street, not just network-wide averages
Fixtyer builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Greenwich's own transparency data — including the DfT's incomplete-data caveat — where it helps you.
Report a Pothole to Royal Borough of Greenwich
Reporting a defect creates a record the council had notice. Do this before claiming — and tell us when you reported it so we can reference it in your pack. The council inspects reported problems within five working days.
Hit a Pothole in Greenwich?
A RED-rated borough with a four-year data gap demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No U-road data-gap argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No DfT incomplete-data citation
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 59% C-roads RED condition documented
- ✅ Four-year B/C survey gap argued
- ✅ 79.5% U-road evidence gap cited
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Greenwich
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Greenwich's RED DfT rating guarantee my claim will succeed?
No guarantee — but the borough's own transparency report records 59% of C-roads and 30% of B-roads in RED (poor) condition when last surveyed in 2021/22, with no published update since. The Department for Transport rates Greenwich RED overall, with RED spend and best-practice scorecards, and flags incomplete road condition data. Section 58 still turns on whether your specific defect was reasonably inspected and repaired.
What if my pothole was on an A-road?
A-roads (39km — 8% of the network) are surveyed annually by Transport for London. Greenwich still needs to prove it acted on survey findings promptly, identified defects within response timeframes, and prioritised repairs appropriately — especially given the council's own admission of "a steady decline to the network" on principal routes.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 384km — 79.5% of Greenwich's 483km carriageway network. The transparency report publishes no condition breakdown for U-roads and no documented annual inspection schedule for this road class. If your incident was on a U-road, the council's published evidence simply does not cover your street at network level.
What if they say they are prioritising the worst roads first?
Then they need to prove your road was inspected and assessed, that it did not meet their priority criteria, and that the priority system itself is reasonable given 59% of C-roads were RED when last surveyed in 2021/22. If most of the classified network already qualified as poor, "prioritising the worst" is not a narrow exception — it describes most of the surveyed network.
Why does the spending reversal (84% to 38% preventative) matter?
Best practice is typically 70–80% preventative spending. Greenwich reached 84.21% preventative in 2022/23, then projected 38.43% preventative for 2025/26 — with reactive share rising to 61.57%, the highest in five years. When preventative maintenance declines and reactive repairs increase, defects form faster than the network is stabilised.
Pothole fills fell to 1,083 in 2024/25 — does that mean roads are improving?
Not necessarily. Greenwich classes potholes as carriageway defects costing £200 or less to repair — larger defects are excluded from this count. Fills fell from 2,698 (2020/21) to 1,083 (2024/25) while resurfacing hit a five-year low of 3.034km, reactive spending rose to 61.57%, and the council acknowledges steady network decline. Fewer recorded fills may reflect reporting thresholds, inspection frequency, or budget constraints — not better roads.
How do I report a pothole to Royal Borough of Greenwich?
Report road and pavement problems via FixMyStreet at fix.royalgreenwich.gov.uk, or through the council's online form at royalgreenwich.gov.uk. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating the council had notice before your incident. Fixtyer searches for existing reports and attaches them to your claim pack.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Royal Borough of Greenwich Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (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 RED; condition AMBER; spend RED; 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.