Active Travel has witnessed several significant developments over the last 18 months.
Active Travel England (ATE) was established as its own statutory body, in January 2023 the Government announced huge investments that was subsequently reduced in the Chancellors Spring budget, ATE became a statutory consultee in planning applications in June 2023, and more recently a vast number of funds have been awarded to successful Local Authorities applicants.
With these developments and a shifting political landscape, we want to highlight the importance of keeping communities informed and engaged. As local areas look to implement the schemes and measures, critical to the success is early engagement to ensure the smooth delivery of these projects.
The successful implementation of Active Travel schemes requires effective, meaningful, and expertly executed community engagement to address concerns, ensure fair representation and communicate the vision. There’s not a ‘one-size’ fits all approach to community engagement, a hyper local and place-based approach that recognises the unique nature of a local community or area must be adopted.
It is necessary to note that the specific benefits can vary depending on the location, the Local Authority criteria, and the measures that were agreed in funding applications. Whilst these schemes have the potential for long-lasting benefits, they often face challenge or opposition from some community members.
At ECF, we have worked on a range of Active Travel schemes across the UK helping our clients to navigate complex stakeholder environments, generating social value by utilising community feedback to help shape Local Authority initiatives. The value of community engagement should not be underplayed nor dismissed, the benefits of engaged and active communities will help to create a legacy for years to come. If you would like further information on how ECF can support you in your Active Travel schemes, then contact the team: info@engagecf.co.uk