Funding boost for active travel upgrades tops £100m
New cycle routes and footpaths will be built across the Midlands, after the region’s eco-friendly transport schemes were backed by £106m of government funding.
Active Travel England has released details of its allocations from its capability fund, a scheme designed to help local authorities to build new environmentally-friendly travel schemes outside London.
The award for the Midlands comes as part of a £626m settlement for local authorities, and comes alongside the release of so-called “capability ratings” for transport bodies, a system which measures their ability to organise, plan and deliver travel improvements.
More highly-rated authorities receive a greater share of funding, with nine local authorities improving their rating in the past year, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in the Midlands.
The West Midlands Combined Authority has received a whopping £36m to put towards active travel projects in the region, while authorities in the East Midlands area have received a combined £43.3m in total.
Active Travel England says the funding will deliver 500 miles of new and upgraded walking, wheeling and cycling routes across the country and, it says, an extra 170,000 active travel trips per day.
“Our innovative funding approach is proving effective, consistently raising the ability of local authorities to deliver the level of quality needed to achieve that ambition. This is evidenced by nine authorities improving their capability rating this year, showing what’s possible when investment and levels of support are carefully tuned to local needs,” said active travel commissioner, Chris Boardman.
“We are not just building infrastructure — together, we are creating communities: places where parents feel confident letting children travel independently, and where older people can reach local shops with ease. We are building life back into our streets.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward described the funding as a “real opportunity to accelerate change” after improved funding awards for the region on the back of ratings improvements for two local authorities.
“Our goal is to make active and sustainable travel options safer and more accessible for everyone. We also look forward to EMCCA receiving its own rating in 2027 as our regional approach continues to develop,” she said.
Meanwhile, Active Travel England also awarded Transport for West Midlands, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, the joint-highest rating achieved by any authority.
Mayor Richard Parker said the announcement was a “show of confidence” in the region’s ability to deliver transport projects, adding that increasing the number of so-called active travel schemes would form a key part of a forthcoming transport strategy for the region.
“This [funding] means more cycle lanes, road crossings, and better pathways to make it easier and safer for everyone to walk and cycle, especially for those shorter journeys like the school run or a trip to the local shops,” he said.
“Investing in active travel is how we will reduce gridlock on our streets, clean our air, and build a happier and healthier community.”
Funding allocations by local authority in the Midlands:
- West Midlands Combined Authority – £36,009,295
- Leicester City Council – £10,169,331
- Warwickshire County Council – £9,840,039
- Nottinghamshire County Council – £6,784,912
- Derbyshire County Council – £6,543,408
- Staffordshire County Council – £5,420,018
- Lincolnshire County Council – £4,750,851
- Leicestershire County Council – £4,399,529
- Nottingham City Council – £3,946,099
- Worcestershire County Council – £3,735,036
- Telford and Wrekin Council – £3,052,129
- West Northamptonshire Council – £2,633,042
- North Northamptonshire Council – £2,225,048
- Shropshire Council – £2,004,847
- Derby City Council – £1,612,294
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council – £1,593,160
- Herefordshire County Council – £1,158,006
- Rutland Council – £255,493
