We need to make the case for investment to secure funding for the delivery of all future improvements. Funding can be secured from a variety of sources including central government funds, regional growth deals and developer contributions.
Active Travel Fund (ATF)
The Active Travel Fund (ATF) is one of several funding options made available by the government to support Gear Change, a strategy which aims to make walking and cycling the natural choices for short journeys, or as part of a longer journey.
The ATF provides funding for local authorities to implement measures that improve the safety, accessibility and convenience of active travel. Local authorities must bid for the capital funding which, to date, has been made available in the following tranches:
- ATF1 or the ‘Emergency Active Travel Fund’ supported the installation of temporary projects for the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic
- ATF2 for 2021/22 supported to creation of longer-term projects and required more thorough consultation than the temporary schemes implemented in the first tranche
- ATF3 for 2022/23 supported the delivery of schemes where allocations were to be spent by March 2023
- ATF4 for 2023/24 supported the delivery of both ‘construction ready’ and ‘development’ schemes. Funding for construction ready schemes needed to be spent by March 2024
To qualify for funding through the ATF local authorities must commit to a number of key principles:
- schemes must comply with LTN 1/20 cycling design standards
- scheme prioritisation should be linked to the development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs)
- schemes must be developed in consultation with local communities
- all schemes must be supported by Local Authority leaders.
ATF funding received
The schemes within Westmorland and Furness have received funding through the ATF.
ATF1 Emergency active travel
Temporary ‘pop up’ cycleways and pedestrian priority junction realignments in Barrow (Abbey Road, Cornwallis Street, Bridge Road and Michaelson Road) and Kendal (Wildman Street).
One way implemented in Grasmere. Removal of through traffic on selected roads in Penrith.
Funding: £233,000 (to cover schemes across Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Council areas)
ATF1 Bike repair stations
Installation of 11 cycle repair stations in key locations in Barrow-in-Furness:
- Biggar Bank Road, Walney
- Earnse Bay car park, Walney
- Rating Lane, Barrow
- Coronation Drive, Dalton
- Greenhaume Cycleway, Askam
- Abbots Vale, Barrow
- Westfield Trail, Barrow
- Michaelson Road, near roundabout, Barrow
- Dalton Lane, Barrow
- Ormsgill Community Centre, Barrow
- Bessemer Way car park
Funding: £233,000 (to cover schemes across Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Council areas)
ATF2 Bridge Road and Michaelson Road, Barrow-in-Furness
Installation of lightly segregated infrastructure. Alterations to bus stops with the inclusion of Bus Stop bypasses where possible. Improved crossing facilities for pedestrians and traffic calming.
Funding: £866,350
ATF3 Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness
Abbey Road (Ramsden Square to Park Drive).
Installation of lightly segregated infrastructure. Alterations to bus stops with the inclusion of Bus Stop bypasses where possible. Improved crossing facilities for pedestrians and traffic calming.
Funding: £3.3 million
ATF3 North Walney, Barrow-in-Furness
North Walney (Jubilee Bridge to Earnse Bay).
A mixture of off-road shared used paths, quiet streets and new segregated bi-directional cycleways. Improved lighting in Vickerstown Park and a new priority parallel crossing on Mill Lane.
Funding: £1.2 million
ATF4 Kendal
Kendal Riverside South (Stramongate to Nether Bridge).
Development of a preliminary design for a mainly off-road cycleway adjacent to the River Kent, linking to Gooseholme Bridge and the NCN.
Funding: £125,000
AFT4 Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness (Duke Street and Schneider Square).
Development of preliminary design.
Funding: £50,000
Capability and Ambition Fund
The local authority Capability and Ambition Fund aims to support the commitments made in the governments Gear Change to increase the capacity of local authorities to plan good active travel infrastructure.
The aim of the funding is to focus investment on authorities with high ambition and capability, but with appropriate support and funding for all authorities to boost their capability to deliver high quality schemes in the future. The funding can also be used by authorities to prepare schemes for forthcoming bids to the Active Travel Fund to secure the funding for their delivery.
Since 2022 a requirement of the Capability and Ambition Fund is for the Council to undertake a high-level capability and ambition self-assessment. The self-assessment allows Active Travel England (ATE), the fund administrators, to understand what local authorities have achieved to date and the level of leadership support for active travel.
An allocation for each authority is determined based on a capability and ambition level determined by ATE and the population with the local authority area.
We (then Cumbria County Council) were last assessed in September 2022 as a Level 2 authority – defined as strong local leadership and support, with strong plans and emerging network. This enables the Council to submit proposals to the fund up to a set allocation.
We have been awarded the following through the Capability and Ambition Fund.
Capability and ambition funding received
Proposals for delivery and funding by year.
Capability and ambition funding, 2021 to 2022
Development of six LCWIPs across Cumbria. Concept design development of schemes identified in the County’s LCWIPs
Funding: £254,164
Capability and ambition funding, 2022 to 2023
Concept design development of schemes identified in the County’s LCWIPs. Upskilling officers and members on active travel design principles and application of design standards (LTN1/20, Inclusive Mobility).
Development of a digital platform for promoting behaviour change. Following Local Government Reform in March 2023 the remaining allocation for 2022/23 was split equally between Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council.
Funding: £358,615
Capability and ambition funding, 2023 to 2024
Six months January to June 2023.
ATE did not require a bid submission for 2023/24.
Allocations were set at 50% of the 2022/23 funding amounts which was then split equally between Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council.
Funding: £89,654
Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal
The Borderlands Partnership website gives more details on the 'Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal' and projects funded within the 'Destination Borderlands' programme.