Highways UK ’25 our Insights

This year’s Highways UK felt like a real snapshot of where our industry is heading.  A lot of our discussions and in keynote talks, the focus was on digital innovation, sustainability, and network resilience.  These are themes that really resonate with us at Malcolm Hughes. The conversations we had, and the sessions we attended, were vital in confirming just how important smart data and collaboration will be in shaping the next generation of roads.

Here are a few things that stood out for us:

  1. Enabling Digital Roads & Smart Asset Management

Digital transformation is happening now. From digital twins to connected infrastructure, it was great to see how much progress is being made. At Malcolm Hughes, we’re already playing our part through 3D laser scanning, BIM-ready data, and mobile mapping,  helping clients make better-informed decisions through accurate, data-rich surveys.

  1. Maintaining & Upgrading the Network

Another big talking point was the shift from building new routes to getting more out of the ones we already have. With funding focused on upgrades and maintenance, it’s vital that these projects are delivered safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption. Our engineering and as-built surveys, along with monitoring services, help local authorities and contractors keep assets performing at their best without surprises along the way.

  1. Meeting Local Authority Challenges

It’s clear that councils are under pressure to tackle everything from potholes to road safety with limited budgets. We spoke to several teams who are looking for more data-driven ways to plan maintenance and secure funding. That’s exactly where our detailed condition surveys, mobile mapping, and pavement contour analysis come in, giving a clear, up-to-date picture of road assets so priorities can be assigned.

  1. Supporting Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure

Sustainability ran through nearly every conversation at the show.  From low-carbon materials to flood resilience, there’s growing recognition that every project has an environmental responsibility. Our surveying work supports that by providing accurate data for drainage, tree and ecological mapping, ensuring designs that protect both the infrastructure and the environment around it.

Stuart Gilling (Managing Director) said:

‘Highways UK 2025 reminded us just how critical high quality, tech enabled surveying is to the future of transport infrastructure. We left feeling like we’d made some great connections and with ideas about how we can further support this industry that’s not just building roads, but shaping smarter, greener and more resilient networks for the years ahead’

Find out more here: Highway Surveys – Malcolm Hughes 

  • malcolm hughes at uk highways