It has recently been announced by the Department for Transport that Chris Boardman MBE, the 1992 Olympic cycling champion and Greater Manchester’s first Transport Commissioner, will be the first Active Travel Commissioner for England and is to lead a new Government body on an interim basis which will aim to encourage cycling and walking throughout England.
The body, known as Active Travel England (ATE)1 , will be in charge of improving infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, which will include inspecting the standards of local roads and ensuring that major planning applications take into consideration the interests of cyclists and walkers, as well as providing funding to improve air quality around these routes. It is also envisaged that ATE will have a consultee role in respect of development proposals commenting on planning applications on the suitability of walking and cycling infrastructure and facilities proposed.
NRP’s Traffic & Transportation team has significant experience in the design and appraisal of improved and new user-friendly and, wherever possible, segregated cycling infrastructure to help make cycling a convenient, accessible and safe choice when moving around our towns and cities. As well as designing streetscapes that are not only pleasant to walk and cycle through, we develop scheme designs that seek to improve the biodiversity and environment while caring for local heritage and improving air quality. We understand how movement for cyclists and pedestrians along busy, motor traffic dominated streets and roads demands innovative solutions and we have a track record demonstrating how we can make a difference.
Our Highways & Infrastructure department has worked on many exciting projects, managing the delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure and streetscape enhancements across London in some of the UK’s most challenging environments. Projects range from local and highly effective Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes in residential areas across the region to large scale, world class public realm schemes in the heart of the city, providing the opportunity and benefits of walking and cycling to thousands of residents, visitors and tourists every year.
ATE will become fully operational later in 2022 so we look forward to the developments that will come from this and the funding it will bring to local authorities to allow them to plan and implement new and exciting schemes across England. NRP is in an ideal position to assist our clients with the full project life-cycle of the wide range of potential schemes that will be generated by this new initiative.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/new-executive-agency-active-travel-england-launches
Key Projects
- Oxford Street District – Major public realm and traffic management project to revitalise the very heart of central London, focussed around Europe’s busiest shopping street.
- Strand-Aldwych and Covent Garden – Major public realm and traffic management projects to transform traffic-dominated streets into world-class public spaces, outdoor dining areas and gardens.
- West End Project – Major public realm and traffic management project to enhance walking, cycling and public transport corridors while creating pockets of beautiful and tranquil public spaces and gardens.
- Westminster Movement Strategy, Camden Streeteries and LTNs – Active Travel Fund and local projects across central London to respond to the need for greater emphasis on walking, cycling and keeping businesses open during the Covid-19 pandemic, including 20km of new cycling infrastructure, a dozen new Pedestrian (and Cycle) Zones and many new Local Traffic Neighbourhoods.
