‘SAFER roads, better crossings and improved neighbourhoods’ – that was the promise from Coventry City Council as it announced a multi-million pound investment into the city’s transport network.
Coventry City Council has announced plans to invest £21million to create safer roads, better walking and cycling routes, improved public transport, and the continued provision of a range of travel options including increasing electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities.
The investment is part of the Coventry Transport Strategy, which sets out the city’s long-term plans to enable residents and visitors to move around the city more easily.
Key projects of the Transport Capital Programme for 2026-27 include a £2.5million Local Network Improvements programme, £11.3million for road and pavement maintenance, £5.8million for active travel schemes, and £1.5million for new EV charging hubs.
Funding comes from national and regional transport programmes including the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), the Active Travel Fund (ATF), the Active Travel Integrated Settlement (ATIS), and the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.
Coun Patricia Hetherton, the council’s Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “This investment strengthens our commitment to improving travel for everyone in Coventry – whether you walk, wheel, cycle, use public transport or drive.
“We’re delivering schemes that repair and upgrade our roads while supporting greener travel, with new active travel routes and expanded electric vehicle charging. Residents will see safer roads, better crossings and improved neighbourhoods.”
The programme includes targeted investment in safety, particularly around schools, and an expansion of the city’s Average Speed Enforcement network, which has already helped to reduce serious incidents across key routes.
The city’s highways maintenance programme will focus on resurfacing, improving drainage and increasing the life of roads in high priority areas.
Coun Hetherton added: “In recent weeks we’ve seen a sharp rise in potholes nationally, made worse by relentless weather. Persistent rain, saturated ground and freeze–thaw conditions have taken a heavy toll on road surfaces.
“Our teams are prioritising the most safety-critical defects, and I’m confident we’ll get on top of the worst issues so we can return to our preferred ‘find and fix’ approach – sorting the reported defect and the surrounding area in one go.”
Coventry is also continuing to expand its walking and cycling network, with more than £4million secured for new segregated cycleways, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and more School Streets.
This includes the new City Centre Cycleway joining Coventry Railway Station to Pool Meadow, and improvements on Westwood Way.
The city will also deliver four new residential charging hubs in 2026-27 through the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Pilot Project, at locations including Wellington Street and Warwick Road car parks, at St Christopher’s Primary School, and at Jardine Crescent Library.
