Active Travel England (ATE) has announced it is looking for a new CEO, with the offer of a £105,000 pay packet, to help lead the organisation as it oversees delivery of the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 3).
The new CEO will help support the Government's long-term ambition of ensuring 55% of short trip stages in towns and cities are walked or cycled and 60% of children walk, wheel or cycle to school by 2035.
Ministers under former prime minister Keir Starmer projected £4.5bn would be spent on active travel infrastructure by 2030, through the CWIS 3 plans, with ATE providing assurance, capability-building and oversight to maximise its impact.
Given the new PM Andy Burnham's record of supporting active travel in Manchester, the sector will be hopeful that this agenda remains fairly stable or even expands.
Announcing the job role, ATE said: 'We are looking for an exceptional leader to become the next CEO of Active Travel England. Working closely with mayoral strategic authorities, local transport authorities and the Department for Transport, the chief executive will lead a high-performing, evidence-led organisation that combines investment, inspection, planning and technical expertise.
'This is a rare opportunity to lead a national agency at the heart of a major long-term programme of transport, health, devolution and economic reform, helping to shape how millions of people get around and creating happier, healthier and greener places.'
The chief executive will oversee ATE's statutory planning role, helping to ensure that new developments support sustainable, healthy and well-connected communities from the outset.
As the Government's commissioning body, inspectorate and centre of expertise for active travel, ATE supports local authorities to plan, design and deliver high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.
