Combined Authorities secure major share of £200M active travel fund

Following consultation with local authorities across England, the Department for Transport has confirmed the allocation of the £200 million of funding for cycling and walking schemes announced in February.

More than 265 schemes in 60 areas will receive a share of the latest round of funding, with four areas receiving more than £10M each, namely Greater Manchester Combined Authority (£23.7M), West Yorkshire Combined Authority (£17.4M), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (£14.4M), West Midlands Combined Authority (£12.6M)

The investment will deliver a range of schemes across the country, including 121 miles of new cycle track, 77 miles of new paths and greenways and initiatives to make streets safer around 130 schools. Funding is being provided for both development and construction work, with some schemes being provided with development funding only.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said, “We want to make sure everyone across the country can choose cheaper, greener and healthier travel while we continue to support our local businesses and grow the economy.

“This £200 million investment will improve road safety, ease congestion and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of the millions of people choosing active travel.

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman added, “By giving millions of people the freedom of choice to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips, this funding will help us improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam.

“Now our focus is working with councils to get these schemes built swiftly. We’ll be working together to ensure the projects are well-designed and effective, so that they bring maximum benefits to communities and help improve lives nationwide.

The winning projects have demonstrated they provide people with attractive choices to use cycling and walking for local journeys, and do not include any low traffic neighbourhood schemes. Local authorities have worked closely with local people to ensure the schemes benefit the community as a whole.”

Cycling across England is up 11% on pre-pandemic levels, increasing by more than 20% in the past 10 years.