M Group showcases sustainable road repair innovations in Devon during MP visit

In June, our highways team in Devon showcased some of the sustainable road repair solutions we’re using in the county to The Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood MP.

More than 9,500 potholes have been filled across the county so far since 1 April 2025 and we’re continuing to proactively maintain some roads before defects form. Cllr Greenwood visited our site at Maer Lane in Exmouth to see the work we’re doing alongside Devon County Council to improve road conditions in the region.

During the visit, our team demonstrated our ‘Dragon Patcher’ innovation. We currently have four ‘Dragon Patchers’ on the contract, an innovative pothole repair technology that heats a mixture of asphalt and aggregates, applying it to road defects and then compacting the material to create a smooth surface.

The ‘Dragon Patcher’ can fix road defects at a faster rate than traditional methods, while reducing the amount of new asphalt used in the process.

Within the contract, we’ve completed a further 10,000m2 of repairs using Elastomac, a sustainable road solution made from 80% recycled material, which was adopted in the region following a successful two-year trial.

Nigel Tomlinson, Business Director at M Group Highways, said: “The visit from Lilian Greenwood MP marked a fantastic opportunity to highlight the great work we’ve done so far with Devon County Council to improve the region’s roads. Across M Group, we continue to introduce technology and innovations to support our clients in delivering cost-effective, sustainable road solutions.”

Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This was a good opportunity for the Minister to see the innovations being used to help bring Devon’s roads up to scratch. We’re aiming for more preventative maintenance to be carried out at an earlier stage to improve road surfaces and stop potholes from forming.”