New Well-managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice published

London: 14 October 2026 - The updated Well-managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice has been published, providing refreshed guidance to support the effective management of highway infrastructure across the UK.

The revised guidance is intended to help highway authorities respond to the increasingly complex challenges of managing infrastructure networks, including evolving customer expectations, technological change, resource constraints and increasing pressure on public finances.

The update strengthens and expands guidance across a range of areas, including resilience, workforce capability and competence, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the long-term management of highway assets. It also refreshes existing guidance to reflect current industry practice and emerging challenges, helping authorities maintain safe, reliable and sustainable networks that support economic activity, connect communities and provide value for road users.

Led by the UK Roads Leadership Group and the Department for Transport, the revised Code has been launched to coincide with Highways UK 2026 and developed with input from 100 volunteers across the highways sector.

AtkinsRéalis acted as a delivery partner to coordinate the update, providing technical input and content development, and developing supporting materials for launch and embedment. A sector consultation held in June generated more than 1,000 comments, which have been taken into consideration to finalise the Code.

The updated Code builds on the approach established in the 2016 edition, retaining the principle of risk-based decision-making while ensuring it remains fit for the modern-day challenges facing highway authorities.

Becky Morrison, Roads Strategy Director at the UK Department for Transport, said: "This update reflects one of the most extensive collaborative reviews undertaken by the highways sector in recent years.

The Code has been shaped by contributions from local authorities, professional bodies, infrastructure specialists, legal and risk practitioners and many others who shared their expertise throughout the review.

The result is a practical and future-facing document that builds on the strengths of the original Code while providing clearer guidance to help authorities manage highway infrastructure in an increasingly complex environment."

John Paterson, Technical Director at AtkinsRéalis said: “The fundamental objective of the Code remains unchanged: helping highway authorities make informed, evidence-based decisions about managing their networks and delivering best value for the communities they serve.

“The revised Code continues to provide a framework for highway authorities to manage their infrastructure in a way that supports safety, service, sustainability and customer focus. Building on the risk-based approach established in 2016, it strengthens guidance across a range of areas to help authorities respond to changing demands while maintaining effective stewardship of their networks.

“Developed by the sector for the sector, the revised Code provides practical guidance that authorities can use to support consistent decision-making, long-term asset management and the delivery of services that meet the needs of road users and communities.”

Areas of existing guidance have been expanded, including network knowledge, finance and investment, procurement and delivery, as well as resilience guidance, alongside overarching principles, highways, structures and lighting, plus a new chapter covering tunnels. The updated Code and supporting materials are accessible via the UKRLG website: UKRLG – UK Roads Leadership Group.

The Code will be available through a new digital platform, supported by resources explaining key changes and Quick Guides for non-technical audiences. Case studies will also be published to support knowledge sharing across authorities. Face-to-face and virtual embedment workshops in November 2026 will help practitioners and organisations understand and apply the new guidance.

About AtkinsRéalis      

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