East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward ‘ready to deliver’ with £121m investment in road improvements

Mayor Claire Ward on board one of the region's buses (Credit: Onclusive News)

Millions of pounds is set to be invested in road improvements across the East Midlands.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is set to propose a £121m investment for road maintenance and repairs across the region for the four highway authorities over the 2026/27 financial year.

Members of the authority’s Transport and Digital Committee will also consider an alternative option to the £121m this week, which would invest a total of £79.4m in road maintenance for the 2026/27 financial year.

The funding – to go before the next meeting of the committee on Thursday 15th January 2026 – aims to make roads safer, reduce congestion, and tackle years of wear and tear caused by previous underinvestment in the region.

The proposed investment would be used for a range of work, from repairing worn surfaces and potholes, improving footways and cycleways, repairing and improving lighting, protecting important structures and increased proactive maintenance which stops damage before it happens. Some projects will combine repairs with improvements to, drainage, and other public space improvements, delivering better results for local communities.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This proposed investment shows our commitment to keeping roads safe and reliable for everyone in the East Midlands. By acting now, we can tackle years of wear and tear, support local communities, and make journeys smoother for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. This decisive action shows we are ready to deliver in 2026.”

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, said: “This proposed additional investment is excellent news for our region and our city. We’ve already benefitted from EMCCA funding for transport projects around the city and look forward to further investment so we can continue to deliver a Derby to be proud of.”

In addition to this, more than £13.5m is proposed for local neighbourhood projects. These smaller-scale schemes improve road safety, access, and local travel, directly benefiting people’s daily lives in towns and villages across the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The proposed funding is subject to agreement at the Transport Committee meeting, before going before the EMCCA board for final approval in March.

The upcoming Transport Committee will also discuss how delivery of the existing £184m transport investment programme is progressing. It has already brought safer roads, better bus services, new cycle routes, and improved travel connections across the region.

Mayor Claire said: “This investment is a significant step forward for our region. By focusing on road maintenance, safer streets, and better transport connections, we are delivering tangible benefits for our communities now, while laying the foundation for long-term improvements across the next seven years.”

EMCCA Successes so far:

• Bus and active travel upgrades in Derby: Victorian railings refurbished while improving bus priority and active travel routes;
• Digital bus totems: Real-time travel information installed in Derby city centre and Sutton-in-Ashfield to make journeys easier;
• Cycle and pedestrian improvements in Nottingham: New cycle routes and pedestrian links delivered ahead of schedule;
• Road maintenance in Nottinghamshire: 140 schemes completed to improve safety and smooth journeys.

Key projects under way:

• Merrill Way/A514/Boulton Lane Junction (Derby): Work has begun on £3m junction improvements;
• Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route (Derbyshire): £2.5m invested in development of the scheme, supporting new housing and regeneration;
• A614/A6097 Major Road Network (Nottinghamshire): More than £7m contribution to tackle congestion and support new housing, with construction planned for summer 2026.

The programme is on track to spend £151m this year, a significant increase compared with 2024/25, showing that EMCCA and the constituent authorities are making real progress on projects that matter to communities and delivering on a larger scale than previously.

This year’s programme is the first of a seven-year investment plan, giving the region certainty to deliver bigger and longer-lasting improvements.

Big Transport Conversation

This new investment comes in the midst of Mayor Claire’s Big Transport Conversation, asking local people for their views on how to make transport in the East Midlands easier to use, cleaner, and better connected.

Buses are a key focus, with plans to make services more reliable, affordable, and accessible, while improving stops and routes to better connect communities. The 15-year vision also tackles congestion, air pollution, and safer, greener travel, ensuring everyone in the East Midlands has easy, reliable ways to get around by 2040.

The Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation is running until 8th February – to have your say on the transport network you want, visit www.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk/mayors-transport-plan

The upcoming transport committee meeting takes place on Thursday 15th January, from 11am, at Trent Conference Centre in Nottingham.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Full details can be found on the EMCCA website at www.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk