Working with us
Strong relationships and partnerships are important to us. We work with experts in their fields, from innovators and nature conservationists to safety and customer service specialists.
By helping us make better investments, providing co-funding or delivering on our behalf, our partners allow us to do more, together.
For the financial year 2025-26, our external funding commitments are limited. Please see each fund page for more information.
Funding principles
All applications will be subject to the same funding principles. They should:
1. contribute to our long-term objective of improving safety on our roads
2. go over and above the traditional focus of road investment, adding value to our customers, local communities and our stakeholders
3. align with one or more of the aims and objectives of the fund which you’re applying to. The expected benefits should be clearly identified
4. include only capital costs. Our Designated Funds programme cannot fund revenue costs unless they can be capitalised
5. support our key performance indicators (KPIs), performance indicators, commitments and obligations to our stakeholders. We’ll prioritise proposals that contribute towards our KPIs most effectively
6. result in measurable improvements in our road network’s performance. Your proposal should make it clear how these improvements are going to be monitored and evaluated against defined performance indicators and targets
7. improve the efficiency of our road network and/or our operations
8. demonstrate that the project phase which you're seeking funding for can be completed by 31 March 2026
9. maximise opportunities for joint funding or partnership with other organisations. These can include public, third and private sector organisations
10. demonstrate value for money
11. have a minimum benefit cost ratio greater than one. For some of the funds, our appraisal process provides a standardised way of demonstrating this
12. be on the National Highways estate or have a clear relationship with it
13. clearly demonstrate that the land required for the project is either owned by National Highways or one of our partners, or an access agreement is in place. Designated funds cannot be used to purchase land on behalf of third parties.
14. not already be funded by another National Highways programme
Funding and application requirements for the third Road Investment Strategy are to be announced in due course in line with the Government’s Spending Review.
If you have a press or media related query, contact the media team. For all other general enquiries, please email the Designated Funds team.
