Warwickshire, UK – February 2026 – Balfour Beatty has been awarded the £315 million Warwickshire Highways Maintenance contract by Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council.
The seven-year agreement marks Balfour Beatty’s third consecutive term delivering highways maintenance services in Warwickshire, extending the long-standing partnership through to Spring 2033. The contract includes an option for a further six-year extension, potentially increasing its total value to £900 million.
Scope of the Contract
Delivery will be undertaken by Balfour Beatty Living Places, the Group’s specialist provider of local road maintenance, street lighting, and public realm services.
Under the contract, the team will:
- Maintain more than 5,000 kilometres of roads
- Deliver cyclical maintenance to over 55,000 streetlights
- Provide reactive and planned highway services
- Support winter maintenance operations
The award reflects a performance record built since 2011, focused on asset management, cost efficiency, and close collaboration with the three local authorities.
Digital Integration and Operational Improvements
A central feature of the new contract is the implementation of an integrated, digitally enabled operating model. This includes a centralised planning and permitting system designed to consolidate programme, performance, and operational data.
The system will strengthen council oversight while creating a platform for AI-enabled enhancements in:
- Highway inspections
- Winter service planning
- Reactive maintenance delivery
The approach aligns with broader industry efforts to modernise infrastructure management through digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
Leadership Commentary
Philip Hoare, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, said the award demonstrates sustained client confidence:
“This award reflects the confidence and trust our customers place in Balfour Beatty. Over the last fifteen years, we have worked collaboratively with our local authority partners to build a strategic infrastructure partnership that combines effective asset management and improving services to deliver strong, measurable outcomes.
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.”
Employment and Community Impact
The contract will commence in Spring 2026 and is expected to support approximately 160 roles at peak delivery. The workforce will include graduate trainees and apprentices, reinforcing Balfour Beatty’s commitment to skills development and local employment.
