The second statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in July of this year, reiterated the Government’s commitment to this important agenda and set out the funding that was projected to be spent on it from 2020/21 to 2024/25 from a wide range of funding streams.

The Autumn Statement of 17 November confirmed the Department for Transport’s overall funding levels for 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Department is currently considering the budget for active travel as part of its examination of all future spending plans following that Statement.

The Department plans to launch Active Travel Fund 4 once future budgets are confirmed through the Departmental business planning process.

The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in the capital and has reserve powers under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to reflect this.

In 2020, London Boroughs received £25 million via the Active Travel Fund (ATF) to deliver safe cycling and walking routes in their areas. They have also received £13m through the Go Ultra Low City Scheme (GULCS) to drive the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.

Over the last two financial years, London Borough of Enfield have been awarded a total of £117,000 through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, which will see 44 EV chargepoints installed across the Borough.

The Department is working closely with the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government to ensure the transport and spatial planning systems are better aligned and actively promote sustainable transport options. The two Departments are also considering how we ensure we deliver on our commitment in Gear Change and ensure that walking, cycling and public transport are the first choice for journeys in new developments. As part of this, Active Travel England, once established, will be a statutory consultee in the planning system. Officials from my Department are in contact with MHCLG officials to determine the scope of this involvement.

Additionally, as set out in the Prime Minister’s July 2020 Gear Change plan, the Department is investing an unprecedented £2 billion in active travel schemes in England over the course of this Parliament. This is the biggest ever boost for cycling and walking and the funding will be spent on a wide range of measures.

The responsibility for transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), and decisions on cycling and walking schemes in Enfield are a matter for the borough and for TfL. In 2020/2021 the Department provided over £100 million of funding to support active travel in the capital, and its financial support to TfL over the period from May to December 2021 includes a further £100 million for active travel.

The Department for Transport is investing an unprecedented £2 billion in active travel schemes in England over the course of this Parliament. This is the biggest ever boost for cycling and walking. The funding will be spent on a wide range of measures, as set out in the Prime Minister’s July 2020 Gear Change plan.