Active Travel England update – GOV.UK

I’m happy to announce additional progress standing up Lively Journey England, the brand new govt company which is able to assist ship this authorities’s £2 billion dedication to lively journey and creating a brand new golden age of strolling and biking.

A variety of senior management appointments have now been made for Lively Journey England. Chris Boardman MBE has been confirmed as England’s Nationwide Lively Journey Commissioner on a everlasting foundation.

After his appointment because the Interim Commissioner in the beginning of the yr, he’ll proceed to guide Lively Journey England and chair the Interim Board which has now been established.

The Division for Transport (DfT) expects to have the ability to verify shortly the appointment of Danny Williams as Lively Journey England’s Chief Govt, who can be beginning full time in August.

He’ll convey a wealth of expertise to the position from efficiently establishing and rising each giant and start-up companies and from his devoted campaigning for enhancing strolling and biking provision.

Louise Wilkinson has been appointed as Lively Journey England’s Chief Working Officer. She has a profitable profession in monetary administration for the Civil Service and native authorities and has most lately been a Finance Deputy Director within the Cupboard Workplace.

The division expects to substantiate shortly the appointment of Graham Grant as its Director of Planning. He was till lately the Assistant Director of Transport at Newcastle Metropolis Council.

Brian Deegan has additionally began because the Director of Inspections. He has efficiently developed and delivered avenue designs for enhancing lively journey in Larger Manchester and London and can work with native authorities to design high-quality schemes. A small variety of DfT staff can even switch to the brand new physique.

Regardless of solely having a handful of officers in place – Lively Journey England has already began to ship important advantages, in keeping with the Gear Change dedication to ship a step-change within the high quality of strolling and biking infrastructure.

It has assessed and awarded £161 million of funding for 134 Active Travel Fund projects, introduced on 14 Might 2022, which is able to ship high-quality schemes in 46 authorities in England, exterior London. This early work will allow 16 million additional biking and strolling journeys to happen every year.

It has additionally developed a collection of instruments that may assist native lively journey initiatives ship high-quality infrastructure and it has delivered coaching and engagement occasions for native authorities. Its work will considerably enhance worth for cash of biking and strolling schemes.

Improved lively journey provision has many advantages. It is going to play an vital position in enhancing the well being of the nation by decreasing bodily inactivity and it is important to the federal government’s dedication to attain net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Higher strolling and biking provision can even assist make native areas greener, more healthy and higher locations to reside.