Three councils have awarded a £315m highways maintenance contract to an international infrastructure group.

The seven-year Warwickshire Highways Maintenance contract has been granted to Balfour Beatty Living Places by Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council.

According to Warwickshire CC, the collaboration between the local authorities is intended to boost value for money, with the same work being delivered for £1m less than in last year’s contract, while supporting road safety and limiting disruption to road users.

As part of the deal, the provider will be tasked with delivering services such as road and streetlight maintenance, using a ‘digitally enabled operating model’ that facilitates ‘future AI enabled improvements in inspections, winter planning and reactive service delivery’.

It will also ensure investment in the councils’ depots and technology, allowing for the use of data to identify defects such as potholes that require immediate solutions.

The contract is due to begin in spring this year and could create a workforce of up to 160 people, as well as creating both graduate and apprenticeship opportunities.

Cllr Jennifer Warren, Warwickshire's portfolio holder for transport and planning, highlighted that the contract will enable an ‘prevention rather than cure’ approach and will deliver innovations such as an enhanced control hub and grit bin sensors.

Cllr Warren said that ‘key to the contract will be continuing the service during freezing winter weather when nearly half of the road network is treated, sometimes multiple times per night.’

Philip Hoare, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, added: ‘Long term partnerships such as this are critical to the delivery of essential infrastructure, enabling sustained investment in people and services so that we can provide better outcomes for communities.’

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