Ensuring healthier, low-cost travel: Active Travel England to help make greener choices

London

Aiming to provide healthier, greener, and low-cost travel choices, the UK will create walking, wheeling, and cycling infra on large development projects under Active Travel England (ATE).

The British government has appointed Active Travel England as a statutory consulting partner on all large housing or development projects that will suggest active travel design for these.

On average, ATE will now review 3,100 applications which means around 60% of new home construction designs will have a new planning partner.

ATE will also help the authorities in designing walking, wheeling or cycling connectivity on these projects to nearby schools and civic amenities.

The main objective of the entire exercise is to help citizens to improve their health, reduce harmful emissions and help save money.

In turn, ATE will also help in reducing increased vehicle traffic on roads or the need to upgrade major road junctions or any corrective measures on roads in the future.

Commenting on the development, ATE Commissioner Chris Boardman said Active Travel England will aid people in making healthier and low-cost travel choices, besides ensuring zero carbon emissions.

“The government is working to ensure millions more people have the opportunity to walk, wheel or cycle from their doorstep to where they need to be.

Designing activity back into our neighbourhoods and creating places where children have transport independence is achievable; it just needs smart planning,” he added.

It is worth noting that ATE has earlier worked on 60 projects since April-November 2022 with local authorities to create active travel options for residents.

The government has sought feedback from residents of these projects and 80% of them have responded in the affirmative to let ATE be a part of the planning system in future projects.