Leeds City Council has launched a new round of trials to assess three pothole repair technologies that could make road maintenance faster, more durable and better value for money across the city.
The tests follow similar evaluations carried out last year and come after a recent report to the council’s infrastructure, investment and inclusive growth scrutiny board on its highway maintenance strategy. Members welcomed the council’s proactive approach to strengthening its ability to respond to defects and reduce repeat repairs.
The latest phase of work also follows weeks of persistent rainfall in January and February, which left the ground heavily saturated and road surfaces more vulnerable to rapid deterioration. Pothole reports have risen sharply in recent weeks, prompting highways teams to deploy additional resources to meet increased demand.
The three systems being examined are at different stages of use and evaluation. Together, they form part of a wider effort to modernise how Leeds carries out day-to-day road repairs, with a focus on long-term efficiency and the potential to reduce the carbon impact of maintenance work.
One of the technologies already tested, in late 2025, was the ‘Velocity’ pothole repair system. The high-speed spray injection method can fill a pothole in under two minutes without excavation or generating waste. The repair is immediately ready for traffic, with the council highlighting its cost-effectiveness and lower-carbon credentials.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor said:
“We recognise that potholes are a major issue in Leeds, and we understand the inconvenience, disruption and frustration they cause for individuals and communities.
“That is why we already afford a high priority to highway maintenance work, investing multi-million pounds each year via the council’s capital programme to this work.
“To complement this investment, we are carrying out trials of innovative technologies that have the potential to not only help tackle the backlog of existing road defects but also support our response to new issues created by the forty days of continuous rain we experienced in January and February this year.
“Having already seen one of these solutions operating with impressive results, I am confident that technologies like the three we are testing can help speed up and strengthen our response to road defects, while also offering cost-effective and efficient ways to keep our city moving.”
More recently, the authority has been utilising the JCB Pothole Pro following a short trial in July 2025. Mounted on a four-wheeled tractor unit, the machine combines a planer, cropper and sweeper to cut out damaged sections, clean the area and prepare the surface, enabling a permanent repair to be completed in as little as eight minutes. The system reduces reliance on hand tools, minimises labour requirements and can help limit disruption for motorists.
A third approach, known as thermal patching, is due to begin testing in spring 2026. The technique uses infrared heat to warm existing asphalt before re-bonding it with a minimal amount of new material. The process is expected to create a seamless, waterproof and jointless repair, while reducing carbon emissions, waste and noise.
All three technologies and their respective benefits will be assessed once the trials are completed. The council will then decide which, if any, should be adopted as part of Leeds’ long-term approach to road maintenance and improving the resilience of its streets.
