Extra £5m boost announced for Lancashire roads

Lancashire County Council has signed off a new set of priorities for 2026/27, together with an additional £5 million allocation for highways maintenance, as it aims to strengthen frontline services and prepare for upcoming local government reforms.

Cabinet members approved the authority’s updated improvement strategy, named Building a Better Lancashire: Moving the Dial on our Priorities in 2026/27, which sets out the council’s main objectives for the next financial year.

The programme expands on the council’s broader 2025–2030 strategy and is designed to focus investment and resources on areas expected to have the greatest benefit for residents, at a time of rising demand for services and continued budget pressures.

Four main ambitions sit at the heart of the plan — Better Lives for All, Economic Ambition, Stronger Communities and Thinking Differently — with six priority areas earmarked for focused work across Lancashire.

As part of the package, councillors also agreed to provide a further £5 million in capital funding for highways projects, using money carried over from the previous financial year.

Most of the additional funding will go towards surface dressing schemes and wider road improvement works on important parts of Lancashire’s highway network, with the aim of improving driving conditions and lowering future repair costs.

Council leader Stephen Atkinson said the authority had achieved notable improvements over the past 12 months in both service delivery and financial management, although he stressed there were still considerable pressures ahead.

“Rising demand for services, financial pressures and preparation for Local Government Reorganisation mean we must stay focused on where we can make the biggest difference,” he said.

He said the latest funding commitments were intended to bring noticeable benefits for local residents, including continued investment in roads and other infrastructure.

The report also outlined progress made in several other service areas during 2025/26, including enhanced SEND provision, shorter waiting times for adult care services and the delivery of hundreds of new specialist school places.

Lancashire County Council added that it remains focused on supporting economic development through a £22 billion investment pipeline, which includes preparations connected to part of the 2027 Tour de France passing through the county.

According to the authority, the internationally recognised cycling event could bring in more than £15 million in visitor spending to the local economy.

Cabinet members additionally considered the results of a recent Corporate Peer Challenge undertaken by the Local Government Association. The review highlighted improvements in leadership, organisational culture and financial governance, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen data usage, local service delivery and long-term financial sustainability.

The council confirmed that progress against the 2026/27 objectives will continue to be tracked through regular governance and performance monitoring during the year.