Trial of third innovative pothole repair system underway

The latest system undergoing testing uses a Thermal Road Repairs machine to heat the existing road surface with infrared technology, making the bitumen malleable without burning it. Once heated, the existing asphalt is loosened, raked, and a small amount of new material is added to repurpose the existing surface. The mixture is then compacted to create a seamless, waterproof repair.

This environmentally friendly repair system, which a small team can operate to make pothole repairs in under 30 minutes, uses approximately 85% less new material than traditional pothole repairs, significantly cutting waste while also keeping noise to a minimum at under 80 decibels.

The Thermal Road Repairs system is the third pothole-filling technology to be trialled by Leeds City Council, with the JCB Pothole Pro being tested last month and the Velocity pothole repair system undergoing tests late last year.

The trial follows last year’s report to the council’s infrastructure, investment, and inclusive growth scrutiny board on its highway maintenance strategy, where members welcomed a proactive approach to strengthening the city’s pothole repair capability.

The strategy received further backing in January, when councillors agreed to commit an additional £13 million in funding to pothole repairs and another £1 million in capital investment towards new pothole filling technologies.

Following the conclusion of the Thermal system test, the results produced by the three technologies will be evaluated, after which the council will determine which, if any, should be adopted as part of the city’s long-term approach to road maintenance.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “As a council, we are giving highway maintenance the priority it deserves through additional funding and investment in new pothole filling technologies.

“While road repairs and potholes have been a high priority for some time, the wet start to the year has damaged road surfaces across the city, giving even more impetus to finding new methods of delivering fast, high-quality and cost-effective methods of pothole repair.

“The new pothole filling technologies we are trialling could not only help tackle the backlog of existing road defects but also support our response to new issues created by the recent wet weather.

“I look forward to seeing the results of these technologies as I’m confident that they can help speed up and strengthen our response to road defects, while also offering cost-effective and efficient ways to keep our city moving.”

Ends

Notes for editors:

Headline image caption (credit - Leeds City Council): Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, with the Thermal Road Repairs machine filling potholes in a Leeds residential area.

JCB Pothole Pro press release (19 February 2026): https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/new-pothole-repair-tech-tests-continue