Councils given £626m to build 500 miles of walking and cycling routes across England
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Councils across England have received more than £626m in government funding to deliver new walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, with enough investment to build 500 miles of routes and support 170,000 more active trips each day.
The government said the funding supports its missions on public health, safer streets and economic renewal by encouraging greener and more active travel.
Active Travel England has published a full breakdown of the funding alongside 2025 capability ratings for each council, which measure their ability to plan and deliver walking, wheeling and cycling schemes.
Higher-rated councils will receive a greater share of capital funding, while lower-rated councils will be offered extra training, support and guidance to help them deliver more ambitious projects.
Nine local authorities improved their capability rating in 2025, contributing to an overall 10% improvement compared with last year.
Chris Boardman, the National Active Travel Commissioner, said: “The aim of Active Travel England is to give people more everyday choice in how they get around, by creating safe, accessible and welcoming streets.
“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. 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.”
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “This £626million investment demonstrates our clear commitment to making walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more accessible for everyone. It is especially encouraging to see nine councils improve their capability rating this year, reflecting real progress and dedication across the country.”
The funding, announced as part of the Spending Review in June, is intended to give people more choice in how they travel, improve safety and health, and help boost economic growth, with the package including £21.6m for future uplifts, allowing for top-ups in 2026/27 for high-performing councils and to fund emerging priorities.
The councils that improved their ratings are Bournemouth and Poole, Cheshire East, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, South Yorkshire and West of England.
Tees Valley is the only authority to have its rating reduced and will receive targeted support from Active Travel England to help improve its future performance, while London’s boroughs are not included because transport in the capital is devolved to the Mayor of London.