Councillors will be asked to approve 120 projects, which enable communities to make highway improvements across Cambridgeshire, at the Highways and Transport Committee on Tuesday 14 October.
The Local Highways Improvement (LHI) programme has been boosted by an additional £850,000 of funding agreed earlier this year, bringing the total investment for the 2025/26 round to £1.67 million, the highest level of funding to date.
The LHI initiative enables local community groups, parish and town councils to put forward proposals for small-scale highway improvements that would not usually qualify for County Council funding. These projects focus on local priorities such as road safety, active travel routes, and access to schools and services.
Under the scheme, external groups can apply for up to £25,000 per project. Projects are then assessed and prioritised based on factors such as road type, traffic levels, condition, active travel links, public transport access, and proximity to key community facilities such as schools or care homes.
This year, the council received 160 applications from across the county, including Huntingdonshire, Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire and Fenland. If agreed, 75% could be funded, a significant increase on previous years thanks to the additional investment
The schemes recommended for approval include:
- 13 projects in East Cambridgeshire, including installation of new footpath sections along Camel Road in Littleport, traffic calming measures on the A1123 in Haddenham between Great Mill View and Glebe Way, and in Sutton from the A142, advisory signs and traffic calming measures to discourage larger vehicles from using unsuitable roads.
- 19 projects in Fenland, such as advisory signs showing that Redit Lane in Wicken is not suitable for large vehicles, footway widening to the War Memorial playing field on Doddington Road in Wimblington, and a speed limit reduction in Wisbech St Mary’s from 60-40mph.
- 31 projects in Huntingdonshire, including creation of a safe crossing route at West Street and the Causeway, Godmanchester, speed cushions on Hollow Lane in Ramsey, a raised pedestrian crossing on the Great North Road in Alconbury, providing a safer crossing for children and vulnerable residents.
- 33 projects in South Cambridgeshire, including footway widening on the High Street in Meldreth, installation of a zebra crossing at The Lanes, Great Wibraham, and creation of a footpath and cycle path on Heath Road in Gamlingay.
- 24 projects in Cambridge City, including enhancements to Jordan’s Yard in Cambridge, aimed at deterring anti-social behaviour, extension of yellow lines, 20mph signs, improvement to crossing points and road markings and signage near school entrances at Queen Edith’s Way, Cambridge, and introduction of double yellow lines at the junction of Discovery Way and Nuffield Road in King’s Hedges, Cambridge.
Cllr Robin Wyatt, Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “This level of investment represents a real shift in the way we deliver improvements to our highways.
“We know from our recent Quality of Life survey that satisfaction with roads and pavements has risen to 28%, which is up from last year’s figure of 21%, and although we know we have more work to do to tackle the long-term challenges facing our highways, these improvements will make a meaningful difference to people’s lives across Cambridgeshire.
“The Local Highways Improvement scheme empowers communities to shape the changes they want to see, and this year’s record funding means more projects than ever before can be discussed at committee and hopefully, if agreed, will move forward.”
Work is ongoing delivering schemes carried over from previous years, with many already underway.
Members of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee will decide whether to approve the proposed schemes at a meeting on 14 October. The papers for the meeting, including a full list of the proposed LHI schemes, can be found on the council’s website here. The meeting will be live streamed on the council’s YouTube channel.
More information about the Local Highways Improvement funding can be found on our website.
