The Government has confirmed £291m for active travel over the next two years as well as reforms to Active Travel England's (ATE) local funding model.
The cash covers several different funding pots. These are:
- £54.2m Active Travel Fund tranche 5 (2024-25)
- £168.5m Consolidated Active Travel Fund (2025-26)
- £30m to provide Bikeability cycle training to children (2025-26)
- £30m to the Sustrans charity to deliver improvements to the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of signed active travel routes; (£5m for 2024-25 and £25m for 2025-26 financial years although individual schemes may take longer to deliver)
- £8.5m for Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities (2025-26).
Individual authority allocations for this year's Active Travel Fund and next year's Consolidated Fund have been revealed.
The new Consolidated Active Travel Fund will supersede the Active Travel Fund and the Capability Fun in the financial year 2025-26. Its overall grant is 76% capital and 24% revenue but with variations between local transport authorities.
The money will 'support local transport authorities with developing and constructing walking, wheeling and cycling facilities in England', with revenue funding supporting network planning and early scheme design plus community engagement and training activities.
ATE used capability ratings to calculate authorities’ funding allocations for 2024-25, including from the Capability Fund, which provides funding to boost local authorities’ technical capability to deliver high quality schemes.
It will continue to draw up capability ratings under the new consolidated fund, which will influence funding levels, Highways understands.
An ATE spokesperson told Highways: 'The Consolidated Active Travel Fund supports local transport authorities with developing and constructing walking, wheeling and cycling facilities in England, as well as supporting behaviour change activities and capability building measures.
'The amount of funding local transport authorities receive from the Consolidated Active Travel Fund continues to be influenced by their capability rating. £40.5m of the Consolidated Active Travel Fund is allocated revenue funding which local authorities can use to boost capability and support behaviour change activities.'
ATE said the total £291m will 'help people make 30 million more journeys by bike or foot every year, including more than 20 million new walk-to-school journeys by children and their parents'.
It is also publishing guidance to help councils ensure that local residents and businesses are heard when designing and delivering transport changes in neighbourhoods.
Minister for local transport Simon Lightwood said: 'Walking and cycling is an affordable way to get around and is hugely beneficial for both mental and physical health. We’re making sure local authorities can deliver high-quality and easily accessible schemes for everyone.
'Investing in our national cycling and walking infrastructure is a key part of our mission for growth and today’s investment will not only provide better connectivity, but boost local businesses, grow local economies and ease pressure on the NHS, helping us deliver our Plan for Change.'
National active travel commissioner Chris Boardman said: 'This funding will help make our towns, cities and villages happier, healthier and greener places to live.'
