Portsmouth: 1% RED Roads, 6,890 Pothole Repairs
Portsmouth City Council is one of the very few authorities in England rated GREEN on all four DfT scorecards — the only council on the Hampshire and South Coast map to achieve that. Its 25-year PFI with Ensign Highways delivers capital spend at more than six times the DfT allocation. Yet the council's own transparency report still records 6,890 estimated pothole repairs across five years, a shift from good to fair condition on classified roads, and 408km of residential streets where most claims actually happen. GREEN is a network verdict. Your claim lives or dies on the specific defect.
The DfT's verdict — all four GREEN
| Scorecard | Performance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | — | green |
| Condition | Above DfT threshold | green |
| A roads | 75% green (2024 survey) | green |
| B & C roads | 78% green (2024 survey) | green |
| Unclassified roads | 1% red (2020–2024) | green |
| Spend | ~6× DfT capital allocation | green |
| Best practice | PFI asset management, WMHI aligned | green |
What all-GREEN means: Portsmouth is performing above average on every DfT scorecard — one of a handful of councils in England to achieve that. Across Hampshire and the South Coast, the council states it is the only authority with GREEN in all categories on the DfT's local authority map. That reflects genuine long-term investment through a 25-year highways PFI running from 2005 to 2030.
Context for your claim: GREEN measures network-level performance against other councils — not whether the specific pothole that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. Portsmouth still filled an estimated 6,890 potholes across five years and acknowledges a shift from good to fair condition on classified roads. A top rating makes generic “the roads are terrible” arguments useless. Specificity wins.
505 kilometres — mostly residential, mostly PFI
Network size from Portsmouth's own transparency report — delivered through Ensign Highways and Colas
| Road class | Length | Share of network |
|---|---|---|
| A roads | 62 km | 12.3% |
| B and C roads | 35 km | 6.9% |
| Unclassified (U roads) | 408 km | 80.8% |
| Total roads | 505 km | 100% |
| Footways | 256 km | — |
| Cycleways | 27 km | — |
The 25-year PFI model
Unlike most authorities, Portsmouth delivers highway maintenance through a Private Finance Initiative with Ensign Highways (Colas as subcontractor), running from 2005 to 2030. The contract covers the majority of roads, footways, and cycleways, with performance standards for inspections, repairs, and network condition index maintenance.
Fixed-price PFI delivery means maintenance risk sits with the service company — which underpins the council's GREEN spend and best-practice scorecards, but does not eliminate individual pothole claims.
Inspection frequency
Colas inspects main roads and pavements in and out of Portsmouth every month (excluding A27/M27, which Highways England maintains). Residential roads are inspected every six months. Ensign carries out annual condition surveys under DfT guidelines.
That is a stronger inspection regime than many councils — which raises the bar for your claim unless you can show prior notice or a defect that should have been caught sooner.
Five years of condition data
RED / amber / green percentages from Portsmouth's transparency report — SCANNER on classified roads, annual surveys with Ensign Highways
A-roads (62km — 12.3% of network): stable RED, rising amber
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2% | 20% | 78% |
| 2021 | 3% | 20% | 77% |
| 2022 | 3% | 20% | 77% |
| 2023 | 2% | 24% | 74% |
| 2024 | 2% | 23% | 75% |
RED share held at 2–3% — but green A-roads fell from 78% to 75% as amber rose from 20% to 23%. The council describes this as a shift from good to fair condition, particularly between 2021 and 2023.
B and C roads (35km — 6.9% of network): 1% RED, amber up six points
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% | 15% | 84% |
| 2021 | 1% | 15% | 84% |
| 2022 | 1% | 15% | 84% |
| 2023 | 1% | 21% | 78% |
| 2024 | 1% | 21% | 78% |
B and C roads stayed at 1% RED — but amber share rose from 15% to 21% between 2020 and 2024. Under DfT definitions, amber means maintenance may be required soon. That is published evidence the council knows a growing slice of its classified network is drifting from good toward fair.
Unclassified roads (408km — 80.8% of network): 1% RED every year
| Year | Red |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% |
| 2021 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1% |
The council reports 1% RED on U-roads consistently — roughly 4km of residential network in the poorest survey category. That supports the GREEN condition scorecard. But most pothole claims happen on estate streets where six-monthly safety inspections, not network-wide SCANNER percentages, determine Section 58.
What the council's report acknowledges
Verbatim from Portsmouth's Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report
“Between 2020 and 2024, the condition of A, B, and C roads remained largely stable, with only 2–3% of A roads and 1% of B and C roads classified as being in poor condition. However, a gradual shift was observed from roads in good condition to those in fair condition particularly between 2021 and 2023 highlighting an emerging need for preventative maintenance.”
— Portsmouth City Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
“Overall, Portsmouth's Highway network remains in good condition. However, the increasing proportion of roads rated as fair emphasizes the need for continued investment and proactive asset management to sustain performance and prevent further deterioration.”
— Portsmouth City Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What this means for your claim
Portsmouth is not denying potholes exist — it is documenting a network drifting from green toward amber on classified roads while holding RED shares low. For Section 58, ask:
- • Was your pothole on a B or C road in the 21% amber category — maintenance may be required soon?
- • Did the defect meet category-one (safety-critical) or category-two intervention criteria in the PFI contract?
- • Was it reported before your incident — via My Portsmouth, the online form, or 023 9284 1047?
- • On a residential street, when was the last six-monthly Colas inspection before your damage?
- • Does your photo show weathered edges or previous patching — proof the defect predated your incident?
A council cannot rely on network-level GREEN ratings alone to defeat a claim about a specific, reportable defect it failed to repair within its own inspection and response regime.
6,890 estimated pothole repairs in five years
Reactive repair volumes from the council's transparency report — carriageways and footways combined
| Year | Estimated potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 1,244 |
| 2021/22 | 979 |
| 2022/23 | 1,268 |
| 2023/24 | 1,889 |
| 2024/25 | 1,510 |
| Five-year total | 6,890 |
Category one and category two defects
Portsmouth's figures include category-one defects — safety-critical issues requiring immediate attention — and category-two defects that will likely become serious if left unaddressed, such as potholes less than 20mm deep expected to worsen. An all-GREEN council still processes hundreds of reactive orders every year because defects form on a heavily used island city network.
~4 repairs a day, averaged over five years
The council reports an average of 1,378 pothole fills per year across 505km — lower than many counties, but not zero. Peak year 2023/24 saw 1,889 fills. Defects still appear between monthly main-road and six-monthly residential inspections — which is when prior-report evidence decides claims.
Following the money
PFI-backed capital spend far exceeds DfT grants — but preventative/reactive splits are estimated, not contractual
| Year | DfT capital allocation | Capital spend | Revenue spend | Preventative (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £2.441m | £9.641m | £16.790m | 79% |
| 2021/22 | £1.786m | £9.636m | £17.811m | 82% |
| 2022/23 | £1.786m | £10.743m | £19.640m | 80% |
| 2023/24 | £2.011m | £13.001m | £19.786m | 78% |
| 2024/25 | £2.011m | £12.792m | £20.700m | 79% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | £2.731m | £13.031m | £21.455m | 80% |
Important caveat: Portsmouth states the PFI contract transfers maintenance risk to Ensign on a fixed-price basis, so there is no contractual split between preventative and reactive spend. The 78–82% preventative figures come from the Asphalt Industry Alliance ALARM survey desired allocation — not audited PFI accounts. Cite them as context, not as proof the specific pothole was unforeseeable.
2025/26 programme and coastal pressure
Planned works from the council's transparency report — and environmental factors the council documents
Planned maintenance 2025/26
- • Resurfacing 4.4 km of carriageways
- • Upgrading 8 km of footways
- • Repairing three highway structures
- • Filling approximately 1,400 potholes
Delivery managed through the PFI contract with performance-based, whole-life asset management.
Island city resilience
Portsmouth's coastal location means flooding, drainage, and coastal schemes (Southsea and North Portsea) intersect with highway maintenance. The council documents climate adaptation — permeable materials, drainage enhancement, and extreme-weather plans including 950 tonnes of road salt stored at Farlington.
Water ingress and freeze-thaw cycles accelerate pothole formation. If your incident followed heavy rain or cold weather, timing relative to inspections and gritting routes may be relevant context.
“When residents come forward to report potholes, it makes a real difference in keeping our roads at the top quality we strive for.”
— Portsmouth City Council — National Pothole Day statement, 2025
Claiming against an all-GREEN council
Honest assessment: Portsmouth is not Derbyshire — here is how that changes your approach
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ All four DfT scorecards GREEN — among England's best-rated authorities
- ✓ 25-year PFI with contractual performance standards and annual condition surveys
- ✓ Monthly main-road inspections, six-monthly residential inspections
- ✓ 1% RED on U-roads consistently — strongest survey data in the transparency report
- ✓ Capital spend at more than six times DfT allocation
Expect a well-documented Section 58 defence. Generic “council neglect” arguments will fail.
What works in yours
- ✗ 6,890 estimated pothole repairs in five years — defects still form
- ✗ B/C amber share up from 15% to 21% — council acknowledges fair-condition drift
- ✗ A-road green fell from 78% to 75% as amber rose to 23%
- ✗ Council explicitly encourages prior pothole reports — proof of notice matters
- ✗ Six-month gap between residential inspections — room for defects to form unnoticed
The winning strategy is specificity
Against a council with all-GREEN scorecards and a 25-year PFI, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect under Section 41 and Section 58:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole — My Portsmouth app, online form, or 023 9284 1047
- • Photos showing defect size, depth, and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Whether the pothole met category-one or category-two PFI intervention criteria
- • Road class — residential six-monthly cycle vs monthly main-road inspection
- • Location on a B/C road in the 21% amber band — maintenance may be required soon
Mac builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and Portsmouth's own transparency data cited where it helps — without pretending an all-GREEN PFI city is the same as a failing authority.
Report the pothole to Portsmouth first
Portsmouth's transparency report and National Pothole Day statement both encourage residents to report defects promptly. Colas prioritises and repairs problems found on monthly and six-monthly inspections plus public reports. Reporting creates a dated record — useful evidence if the pothole was reported before your incident, or if the council failed to repair it within a reasonable time.
Report a pothole to Portsmouth City CouncilAlso available via the My Portsmouth app or by calling 023 9284 1047. Keep your reference number and any confirmation.
Hit a pothole in Portsmouth?
An all-GREEN PFI council demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • Ignore all-GREEN Section 58 strength
- • No PFI inspection-regime argument
- • No prior-report search
Professional claim pack
- ✅ All-GREEN rating acknowledged honestly
- ✅ 6,890 five-year pothole total cited
- ✅ B/C amber drift and fair-condition shift argued
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Portsmouth
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Portsmouth's all-GREEN DfT rating block my pothole claim?
No — but it changes your approach. Portsmouth is one of the few councils in England rated GREEN on all four DfT scorecards, which strengthens their Section 58 defence at network level. Your claim still turns on the specific defect: whether it met intervention criteria, whether it was found in a safety inspection, and whether it was repaired within reasonable timeframes — not on the colour of a city-wide scorecard.
What does all-GREEN actually mean for Portsmouth?
GREEN means Portsmouth performs above the DfT threshold on overall condition, spend, and best practice. Its own transparency report shows only 1–2% of roads in RED condition across every class, and capital spend running at more than six times the DfT allocation. It does not mean zero potholes: the council filled an estimated 6,890 potholes across five years, including 1,510 in 2024/25.
Portsmouth shows just 1% RED roads — can I still claim?
Yes. RED is a network survey category, not a guarantee that no individual pothole was unreasonably left unrepaired. Portsmouth's own data shows B and C roads shifting from 15% amber in 2020 to 21% amber in 2024 — maintenance may be required soon on a growing share of classified roads. Reactive repairs, public reports, and inspection records for your specific street decide the claim.
Who is liable — Portsmouth Council, Ensign, or Colas?
Portsmouth City Council remains the highway authority under the Highways Act 1980. Maintenance is delivered through a 25-year Private Finance Initiative with Ensign Highways (Colas as subcontractor), but claims for pothole damage are made against the council. The PFI contract's performance standards and inspection regime are relevant evidence — they show what the council committed to, not a separate legal entity you sue instead.
Residential roads are inspected every six months — does that weaken my claim?
It strengthens the council's Section 58 position on residential streets compared with councils on annual or multi-year cycles. Main roads and pavements in and out of Portsmouth are inspected monthly. Your claim therefore needs to show the specific defect should have been caught sooner — prior reports before your incident, photos showing visible age, or proof it met category-one safety criteria and was not repaired promptly.
Portsmouth filled 1,510 potholes in 2024/25 — does that mean the roads are fixed?
No. Reactive repairs treat individual defects; they do not reset network condition. Portsmouth still projects approximately 1,400 pothole fills in 2025/26 despite four GREEN scorecards. The council's own report notes a gradual shift from good to fair condition on classified roads between 2021 and 2023 — defects can still form and damage vehicles between inspections.
Are the 79–80% preventative spend figures reliable?
Treat them with caution. Portsmouth's transparency report states the PFI contract transfers maintenance risk to Ensign on a fixed-price basis, so there is no actual split between preventative and reactive spend in contract data. The council uses the Asphalt Industry Alliance ALARM survey desired allocation instead. For your claim, inspection frequency, defect response times, and prior reports matter more than an estimated spend ratio.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Portsmouth City Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.