£440m boost for green transport schemes

The Government has announced a number of sustainable transport schemes to promote the green and healthy benefits of cycling and walking in form of a £440 funding boost

The Department for Transport is providing £64 million towards the schemes in the latest round of its Local sustainable Transport Fund, with Local Enterprise Partnerships investing over £100 million of the funding they received earlier this week as part of the Local Growth Fund.

Further match funding will take the value of the package to over £440 million.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “We want more people to choose to travel in a way that cuts congestion and carbon, delivering economic and environmental benefits.

“This funding will make that choice easier for millions of people across the country, delivering new sustainable transport schemes throughout England.”

To be considered for funding, the schemes had to demonstrate how they would boost economic growth, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and encourage higher levels of cycling and walking to improve public health.

The funding announced today is good news for cycling, with all the schemes including measures to get people on their bikes such as cycle hire, maintenance and cycle hubs. This complements the infrastructure schemes funded through the Local Growth Fund, including cycle networks across the country.

Today’s government funding is in addition to the £3 billion being provided for transport through the Local Growth Fund, which included £600 million for sustainable transport and £700 million for packages that benefit all road users.

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