Active Travel England update – GOV.UK

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

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

After his appointment because the Interim Commissioner at first of the 12 months, he’ll proceed to steer Energetic 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 Energetic Journey England’s Chief Govt, who shall be beginning full time in August.

He’ll deliver a wealth of expertise to the function from efficiently organising and rising each massive and start-up companies and from his devoted campaigning for bettering strolling and biking provision.

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

The division expects to verify shortly the appointment of Graham Grant as its Director of Planning. He was till just 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 road designs for bettering lively journey in Higher Manchester and London and can work with native authorities to design high-quality schemes. A small variety of DfT workers can even switch to the brand new physique.

Regardless of solely having a handful of officers in place – Energetic Journey England has already began to ship important advantages, according to 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 can ship high-quality schemes in 46 authorities in England, exterior London. This early work will allow 16 million further biking and strolling journeys to happen annually.

It has additionally developed a collection of instruments that can 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 necessary function in bettering the well being of the nation by decreasing bodily inactivity and it’s 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 dwell.