Nottingham ranks among England’s worst areas for potholes and road conditions

Anyone who drives regularly knows the feeling. You hit a pothole that seems to appear out of nowhere, your steering jolts, and suddenly you’re wondering if your tyre survived the impact. Across England, complaints about rough roads and crumbling surfaces have become part of everyday life, with drivers increasingly frustrated by damage, delays, and repair bills.

A new study by Councilclaims.co.uk has revealed the English local authorities with the worst road conditions, based on Department for Transport data showing the percentage of roads where maintenance should have been considered between April 2024 and March 2025. The study looked at both A roads and motorways, as well as B and C roads, to identify the areas with the biggest maintenance concerns.

A roads and motorways are typically the country’s busiest major routes, used for long-distance travel, commuting, and heavy traffic. B and C roads, meanwhile, are smaller local roads that people use more often for everyday journeys through neighbourhoods, town centres, and residential areas. While potholes on major roads can cause serious disruption, problems on B and C roads are often the ones drivers notice most in day-to-day life because of how frequently they are used for shorter trips.

Nottingham ranked third overall in England for poor road conditions, with 19% of A roads and motorways flagged as needing maintenance, alongside 21% of B and C roads. The figures suggest a notable share of the city’s road network is now in poor enough condition for repairs to be considered.

For many drivers in Nottingham, potholes and rough surfaces have become an increasingly common frustration during everyday journeys. Whether commuting into the city centre, navigating residential streets, or driving through busy local routes, uneven road surfaces can mean uncomfortable journeys, tyre damage, and costly repairs.

The findings reflect wider frustrations felt by motorists across England, where concerns over road quality have become a growing talking point. Drivers are increasingly voicing complaints about potholes appearing faster than they are repaired, especially on smaller local roads that experience heavy day-to-day traffic.

Derbyshire ranked as the worst area overall for road conditions in the study, while the City of London placed second after recording the highest percentage of B and C roads needing maintenance anywhere in the ranking at 67%.

Other areas appearing high on the list included Brighton and Hove and Liverpool, while several London boroughs, including Brent, Harrow, Barnet, Ealing, Southwark, and Westminster, also ranked among the areas with the biggest maintenance concerns.

Meanwhile, areas including Sunderland, Warrington, and Middlesbrough reported some of the lowest shares of roads needing maintenance consideration.

England road maintenance rankings (A roads & motorways / B & C roads needing maintenance %)

1 — Derbyshire — 29% / 43%

2 — City of London — 7% / 67%

3 — Nottingham — 19% / 21%

4 — Brighton and Hove — 14% / 12%

5 — Brent — 14% / 11%

6 — Liverpool — 11% / 17%

7 — Harrow — 7% / 25%

8 — North Tyneside — 15% / 4%

9 — Derby — 9% / 17%

10 — Leeds — 10% / 14%

10 — Barnet — 10% / 14%