DfT invites English councils to apply for share of £60m Sustainable Travel Access Fund

English councils outside London have been invited to apply for funds from a £60 million Sustainable Travel Access Fund by the Department for Transport (DfT). The money – which will support projects from 2017 to 2020 – is part of the government’s existing £300 million commitment to cycling investment between 2015-16 and 2020-21.

Announcing the fund yesterday, cycling and walking Minister Robert Goodwill said:

“Green sustainable transport schemes cut congestion, improve air quality and can make it easier for people to get around more efficiently and effectively. We are investing over £300 million to support cycling and walking schemes in this parliament, and this new scheme is aimed at kick-starting innovative and sustainable council projects.”

As with the stopgap £20.6m green transport fund announced in May, the fund will be run on a competitive basis with councils across England asked to bid for a share. Councils are being encouraged to look at opportunities to work together on devising schemes and successful authorities will be asked to contribute 10 per cent of their scheme costs.

The DfT also suggests working alongside Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) where they are including sustainable transport measures in proposals to be submitted next month ahead of a further round of Growth Deals.

The closing date for project proposals is September 9.