Nottingham tops ranking of UK cities struggling most with poor roads and potholes

Anyone who’s had to swerve around potholes or brace themselves for a rough journey might not be surprised by the findings of a new study from Councilclaims.co.uk, which has revealed the UK cities and local authorities dealing with the biggest road maintenance problems.

placeholder image — Nottingham tops ranking of UK cities struggling most with poor roads and potholes | Source: Unsplash

The research looked at pothole repair intensity per 100 kilometres of road, as well as the percentage of A roads, B and C roads, and smaller local roads considered to be in poor condition.

In the study, A roads refer to the UK’s major roads used for high levels of traffic and longer-distance travel, often connecting towns and cities. B and C roads are smaller regional and local routes that link communities and support everyday commuting, while U roads, also known as unclassified roads, are typically residential streets and neighbourhood roads.

Nottingham has emerged as the worst-affected city overall, topping the ranking for road deterioration and pothole pressure. The city recorded 19% of A roads and 21% of B and C roads in poor condition, alongside a pothole repair intensity of 16.83 per 100 kilometres of road, placing it at the top of the study.

Brighton and Hove also featured prominently, with 18% of A roads classed as being in poor condition and a repair intensity rate of 9.90 per 100 kilometres. Lancashire stood out for the highest pothole repair activity in the study, reaching 21.94 per 100 kilometres, with more than a quarter of its unclassified roads also rated poorly.

Liverpool, Derby, Shropshire and Southend-on-Sea were also among the areas facing significant pressure across their road networks. Liverpool recorded 10% of A roads and 16% of B and C roads in poor condition, while Southend-on-Sea saw nearly 24% of its smaller unclassified roads rated poorly, showing how issues extend beyond major routes into residential areas.

The findings suggest that road deterioration is not confined to main commuter corridors, with many local authorities seeing equal or greater strain on smaller neighbourhood roads. In some cases, areas with comparatively better A road conditions still ranked poorly overall due to the condition of their local road networks.

At the other end of the scale, Portsmouth emerged as one of the strongest-performing areas, with just 1% of unclassified roads in poor condition and relatively low levels of pothole repair activity overall.

Nicholas Tate, spokesperson for Councilclaims.co.uk, said poor road conditions can gradually affect both driving experience and vehicle wear:

“Over time, that kind of driving takes its toll in more ways than people realise. It’s not just the frustration in the moment, it’s the extra strain on vehicles, from tyres and suspension to alignment issues that slowly build up. Even routine journeys can start to feel more tiring when you’re constantly reacting to the road surface rather than just getting from A to B.”

“It also changes how people plan their journeys. Drivers start avoiding certain routes, allowing extra time just in case, or sticking to roads they know are slightly better even if they’re not the most direct. That ripple effect can add pressure to other parts of the network and makes everyday travel feel more stressful than it should be.”

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