David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has proposed an unprecedented level of funding to repair roads and make it safer and easier to walk, wheel and cycle across the region.
At a meeting next Friday (27 March), members of the Combined Authority will be asked to approve a four-year delivery plan for the Mayoral Transport Fund.
The proposal includes £298.4m for highways maintenance – including fixing potholes and resurfacing – and £17.5m for active travel, alongside plans to increase investment in making streets safer for everyone – from families walking to school to people wheeling and cycling to work or the shops.
Following the creation of the Combined Authority, the region has secured increased government funding compared to previous years, alongside its first multi-year settlement. This provides greater certainty for long-term planning and more flexibility in how funding is spent.
Between 2026 and 2030, the authority will receive a total of £456.2 million from the Department for Transport. In 2026/27, £70.9 million will be passed directly to North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council for highways maintenance, representing a significant increase on the previous year.
The Mayor said: “I know first-hand the impact that poorly maintained roads have, not just on drivers, but also on people walking, wheeling and cycling. That’s why, over the next four years, I’m proposing we invest nearly £300 million to fix our roads and tackle potholes.
"I’m also proposing a record £17.5 million investment to build and improve cycle routes, pavements and crossings. Creating a safer school run is at the heart of this plan. To support this, an extra £30million will go towards improving conditions around schools and funding schemes that protect everyone who uses our roads.
"I’m proud to put forward this plan for approval. It is a £456 million plan, delivering record levels of investment to fix our roads and make them safer for everyone who uses them."
Under the proposals, North Yorkshire Council will receive £63.8 million for highways maintenance in 2026/27, up from £57.8 million in the previous year.
City of York Council will £7.1 million in the same period, up from £4.4m in 2025/26.
The proposed delivery plan sets out how capital funding will be allocated, and includes £112 million for significant schemes to improve the highway network. This includes the investment in active travel and safer streets, as well as funding available for bus access, rail station access improvements and corridor schemes. Local councils and delivery partners will be able to submit schemes for consideration.
