Active Travel England gives local authorities a further £200m for active travel infrastructure

Active Travel England is inviting local authorities in England to apply for a new £200m fund to secure investments for active travel infrastructure.

Projects will be designed in consultation with residents and businesses to ensure they are safe and work for local communities. The successful projects will be announced later this year.

Schemes could include:

• creating more paths in rural areas

• developing safer routes for children to walk to school

• improved safety at junctions for people walking and cycling

• Funding will also be used to support people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters by making street designs more inclusive

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said, “This £200 million investment for hundreds of upgraded routes and paths across the country will help to reduce emissions, boost local economies and create jobs.

“These new schemes will make it safer for children to walk to school and will better connect rural communities, helping more people choose active travel as an affordable and healthy way to get around.”

Walking and cycling charity Sustrans has estimated that active travel generated £36.5 billion for the economy in 2021 through increased spending on high streets, reduced pressure on the NHS and better access to jobs. This investment could also generate up to 16 million additional walking and cycling trips a year.

Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said, “Active travel is convenient, cheap, low carbon and health-giving. It’s a choice we need to make sure everyone has. Sometimes it only takes relatively small changes, such as crossings on school routes or convenient places to park a bike, to give us the option to walk, wheel or ride.

“Our job is to help local authorities across the country ensure that everyone has more attractive options for their daily trips and we are excited to help them deliver those options.”

The funding could see more young people choosing a healthier and greener way to get to school; the government’s objective is to enable 55% of all primary school children to walk to school by 2025.