- Funding for councils, enough for 500 miles of new walking and cycling routes and 170,000 more active trips per day
- The investment will deliver safer streets, healthier communities and greener transport choices
- Active travel capability ratings have been published for 2025 with nine authorities improving their grade
Councils across England have received more than £626million in government funding to help them deliver walking, wheeling and cycling schemes.
The multi-year investment is enough to deliver 500 miles of new and upgraded walking, wheeling and cycling routes as well as 170,000 greener, more active trips per day, supporting the Government’s Plan for Change missions on public health, safer streets and economic renewal.
Active Travel England (ATE) has today (Wednesday 10 December) published a full breakdown of this funding alongside each local authority’s capability rating, which measures councils' ability to organise, plan and deliver walking, wheeling and cycling schemes.
Higher-rated authorities will receive greater proportions of capital funding, whilst lower-rated authorities will be given extra training, support and guidance to help them boost their ability to deliver more ambitious schemes. This approach ensures that provision for walking, wheeling and cycling is increasingly high quality, connected and safe across the country.
Nine local authorities improved their capability rating in 2025, contributing to a 10% improvement on last year.
“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. 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.
“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.”
“This £626million investment demonstrates our clear commitment to making walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more accessible for everyone. By backing councils with the funding and support they need, we are helping to create healthier communities, safer streets and greener local transport choices.
"It is especially encouraging to see nine councils improve their capability rating this year, reflecting real progress and dedication across the country. Together, we are delivering the high-quality infrastructure that enables people to travel more actively, helping cut NHS waiting lists."
The funding, which was initially announced as part of the Spending Review in June, will deliver greater choice in how people travel, creating safer, healthier journeys and boosting economic growth.
The package includes £21.6million for future uplifts, allowing for top-ups in 2026/7 for high-performing councils and to help fund emerging priorities.
The nine local authorities that improved their capability ratings are: Bournemouth and Poole, Cheshire East, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, South Yorkshire and West of England.
Tees Valley is the only local authority to have its rating reduced and will now receive targeted support from ATE to help improve their future rating.
London's boroughs are not included in this funding package as transport in the Capital is devolved.
Funding allocations are available to view here and the capability ratings are available to read here.