Low-carbon roads programme moves from trials into council delivery
Highways · UK-wide
By Net Zero News · Published 18th October 2026
Councils are incorporating lessons from ADEPT Live Labs 2 into road maintenance and street lighting. CIHT reports that DfT has allocated £300,000 to share findings from the seven-project decarbonisation programme.
Project status: Programme update — adoption and knowledge sharing
What changed
CIHT’s update highlights lower-carbon surfacing in North Lanarkshire and an integrated approach to street lighting in East Riding. It also describes work using grass cuttings to produce biochar for road materials. The programme’s delivery phase ended in March 2026; the latest development is the move towards wider adoption and sharing practical findings, rather than a new open funding round.
Key project takeaways
Compare trial findings with local maintenance specifications before wider rollout.
Assess whole-life carbon, durability and cost together when reviewing materials and lighting.
Why this matters
Council highways teams can examine trial evidence before deciding which lower-carbon materials, lighting and maintenance methods suit local conditions. Procurement specifications and performance monitoring should reflect the needs of each road network.
Source: Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation ↗ · Original announcement: 14th October 2026