Andrew Whittingham illustrates the importance of new Active Travel England policies

Andrew Whittingham, director at Motion and Southern Snap Editorial Board member, illustrates the importance of the two new policy documents from Active Travel England.

Andrew said:” Active Travel England’s pro-active and co-operative role in the planning process is clearly welcomed and reinforces the need to demonstrate from the outset how walking, wheeling and cycling are embedded into scheme design and connections to wider active travel ambitions.”

Two linked policy documents set out the direction for active travel in England over the next decade: Worth Every Step: Active Travel England’s delivery plan for a thriving nation 2026/27–2029/30 and Active Travel – Active England: the third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3) – GOV.UK.

For developers and transport consultants, the key message is that active travel is becoming more central to planning and design decisions. Vision-led Transport Assessments will remain important, with greater scrutiny of how well developments support walking and cycling from the outset. Expect closer examination of site permeability, the directness and quality of routes, and how easily people can reach shops, schools, services and public transport.

There is also a stronger expectation that schemes will align with LTN 1/20, Active Travel England guidance, and the NPPF’s healthy place-making objectives. In practice, this means active travel provision should be embedded early in scheme design, not added later. Active Travel England’s assessment and consultation processes are likely to play a bigger role in shaping proposals before planning decisions are made.

More broadly, CWIS3 aims to accelerate mode shift and improve everyday walking, wheeling and cycling. Priorities include more short journeys by active travel, higher levels of walking and cycling to school, thousands of new routes and safer crossings by 2030, new guidance on speed limits and local transport plans, and the foundations for a national active travel network by 2032.