Objective 7: A well-managed and maintained transport network

Summary of Objective

We continue to explore funding opportunities, particularly to trial new technology, including exploring the use of Microsoft FastTrack resource to support big data storage necessary to inform use of AI. We work collaboratively with other organisations such as Transport East to build data and evidence to support transport project development. 

Policies

• Policy 18: Maintaining the current highway asset will be a key priority for funding. Works should be targeted to ensure A and urban / inter-urban routes are in good condition 
• Policy 19:  We will identify corridors important for sustainable and active transport and focus maintenance on provision for these users where its impact would be most beneficial in market towns and urban areas 
• Policy 20: In urban areas we will focus on measures to improve public transport corridors to make those journeys quicker and, in areas identified as having less congestion, we will aim to make all journeys more reliable 
• Policy 21:  The likely impacts of climate change on the highway network should be addressed to ensure assets are resilient. Where assets can't be made resilient to impacts of climate change, such as coastal erosion, we should have planned alternatives so we can respond faster and avoid disruption. We will use a risk-based approach to determine the priority for action 
• Policy 22: New and innovative technology to collect data about the network, inform decisions, assess where to target funding on the network and share information with the public will be embraced and used proactively 

Objective 7: Delivery highlights

• NCC annually update the Transport Asset Management Plan and monitor the Asset Management Strategy and its performance framework. A technical update went to Infrastructure and Development Select Committee on 13 November 2024 for 2025-26 and minor technical revisions went to Cabinet in March 2025. 
• The Highways and Transport Performance Report went to Infrastructure and Development Select Committee in July 2025. Highway asset performance is assessed on an annual basis against a set of previously agreed service level priorities to inform investment decisions and make the best use of capital expenditure. A highlight of this report is the LTP target of public satisfaction, reporting that Norfolk County Council achieved an overall score of 51 for 2024 and achieved a ranking of 1st out of 29 County Councils that participated in the survey. The satisfaction on Condition of the Highway is 12% above the NHT average. Although the score is lower than last year, the rank has remained consistent at 2nd.  
• In 2024-25 NCC continued delivery on Norfolk Access Improvement Plan priorities, including developing schemes within the Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). 
• In February 2024, a Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) was adopted and published on the Norfolk County Council website. The purpose of the Countywide LCWIP is to identify and prioritise short, medium and long-term infrastructure schemes which will enable increased levels of active travel in Norfolk. The plan identifies cycling, walking and wheeling improvements within 20 towns across the county and proposals to increase connectivity between towns and rural communities. The countywide plan builds on plans already created for Greater Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn. 
• The LCWIP is closely aligned with Norfolk County Council's Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy, adopted in April 2024. The strategy will be mostly implemented through the Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and Norfolk Access Improvement Plan, which relates to Public Rights of Way, as well as other adopted and emerging plans to ensure walking, wheeling and cycling are at the heart of Norfolk County Council's decision making.  
• A review of parking in Greater Norwich has been commissioned and will continue to be developed throughout 2025.  
• Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk have worked on Parking Strategies for King's Lynn and Hunstanton, which are due to be adopted in 2025. 
• We are using vehicle telematics to measure highway performance and contributed to Transport East project on agent-based modelling, which simulates behaviour of the wider transport network by modelling the actions of individual drivers to understand traffic movement, congestion and the impact of infrastructure changes. This includes the use of mobile phone data.  
• We are using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, AI and machine learning to aide our understanding of how our highway network is used and is performing and equally sharing this with highway users through our Travel Norfolk initiative. Eighteen AI cameras are now operational in Great Yarmouth and Norwich with 50% funding from the LTP. 
• Some sensors are deployed across the county connected to the Long Range Wide Area (LoRaWAN) network to gather data intelligence on the network to better inform future decisions. 

Work for next period

In February 2025 Norfolk County Council received details of future funding on local highways from 2025-26. This funding will be used to improve living standards by fixing roads in need of repair and providing immediate fixes for communities that need it. Maintanence funding will be directed to the most critical repairs in the first instance and the most significant road damage. 

 NCC teams continue to work tirelessly to achieve the target for the percentage of principal roads where maintenance should be considered. There has been an increase between 2022 baseline and 2024-2025, although rising this aligns with national trends. Funding for highway maintenance has previously been on a one-year cycle. Government have very recently confirmed a three-year settlement, which will allow us to plan further ahead and the Asset Management Policy and Strategy will be reviewed and taken to members or comment and approval. This will align with the funding settlement and resulting condition projections. Monitoring surveys are undertaken each year, which inform where the budget is spent to make sure we are making improvements where they are most needed. 

The Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on a Transport Adaptation Strategy has been completed and when the results are published, we will develop our approach to adaptation, risk-management and resilience in line with the new guidance.   

Some trial air quality sensors have been deployed across Greater Norwich connected to the LoRaWAN network and we will continue to look for funding opportunities to expand this network.   

Following the adoption and publication of LCWIPs in Norfolk, feasibility studies have been commissioned for the following active travel routes: Great Yarmouth to Caister; Gapton Hall Road to Blackbird Close, Great Yarmouth; Wisbech Road to Main Road, Downham Market; Horsford to Broadland Park.  

The next stage is to integrate the LCWIP into local planning and transport policies and to work with key stakeholders to prioritise the schemes and to seek funding opportunities for their development.