Councils in England are being urged to bid for a share of £60m to develop sustainable transport initiative.
The funding from the Department for Transport’s green sustainable travel Access Fund will support projects boosting walking and cycling over three years.
Councils successfully in applying for the fund will be asked to contribute 10% of their scheme costs and will be encouraged to work alongside Local Enterprise Partnerships in submitting proposals.
Cycling and walking minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘We are investing over £300m to support cycling and walking schemes in this Parliament, and this new scheme is aimed at kick-starting innovative and sustainable council projects.’
Bridget Fox from Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the announcement, saying sustainable travel can improve people’s health, the environment and local economies.
She said: ‘To secure real benefits across the country, this efficient fund should be expanded in future. Most funding for local transport schemes is still led by Local Enterprise Partnerships, who, as our LEP Watch research shows, typically allocate just £1 in every £100 for transport schemes on cycling.’
