A £60m sustainable travel fund "contributor" to "kick-start" cycling and walking boost

A £60m fund is a "significant contributor" to the resources available for the Government's strategy to increase cycling activity, the DfT has said.

The revenue-only Access Fund is designed to complement other funding, most notably the competitive capital fund, the Local Growth Fund, bids for which have to be led by local enterprise partnerships. The Access Fund, in contrast, is aimed at local transport authorities in England outside London.

They will need to "articulate a strategic narrative around how their scheme will contribute to economic growth and demonstrate support for boosting the numbers of people cycling and walking," guidance says. Bidders will need to find 10% match funding for projects and to highlight if they are reliant on the separate Local Growth Fund.

The Department will prioritise bids for the fund for three years that support its objective to double cycling activity as measured by the total number of walking stages per person per year, and reverse the decline in walking activity, measured as the total number of walking stages per person per year. Cycling and walking minister Robert Goodwill said the fund would "kick-start" innovative projects to cut congestion and improve accessibility.