Committee approves Roads Capital Allocations for 2026/27
Investment Across the Highlands of £21.55 million
The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee has today approved all recommendations relating to the 2026/27 Roads Capital Programme, confirming a total investment of £21.55 million to maintain and improve the region’s road network.
Members agreed the full package of measures set out in the report, including the breakdown of the Roads Capital Budget, specific contingency funded projects, future programme governance and indicative Area allocations.
The Committee agreed funding allocations, confirming the distribution of the £21.55m Roads Capital Budget across base capital, top‑up funding, contingency and structures.
The approved capital budget includes:
- £7.8m for Roads Base Capital
- £12.15m top‑up to support priority schemes across all Areas
- £1m for emergencies and emerging issues
- £600,000 for small-span structures requiring replacement or significant repair
Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “This is a substantial and very welcome level of investment that will make a real difference to communities across the Highlands. Maintaining a safe and reliable roads network is essential for daily life, local economies and long‑term resilience. The budget approved today strengthens our ability to address local priorities while planning responsibly for future needs. I want to thank all Area Teams for their continued hard work and commitment.”
Decisions on any additional contingency funded schemes will be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive – Place, in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair.Members also noted the indicative £19.037m allocation to Area programmes, ensuring that each Area will see an increase in available funding for 2026/27. The amounts for each area will be updated once the latest Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey (SRMCS) results are available and adjusted for any carry forwards using the same methodology as last year.
Vice Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Michael Green said: “This investment reflects our continued commitment to improving the condition, resilience and safety of roads across every part of the Highlands. By approving these allocations today, we are giving our Area Teams the certainty they need to plan effectively and deliver the projects that matter most to local communities. The additional funding for structures and the targeted use of contingency resources will ensure we can respond proactively to challenges while still progressing essential long‑term improvements. This is a significant programme of work, and I’m pleased to see it moving forward for 2026/27.”
Area Roads Teams have prepared their rolling programmes, which are presented to respective Area Committees.