Stantec’s response to Government’s Active Travel Scheme

At the start of 2023, the Government announced a £32.9 million scheme to help local councils in England design, develop and consult on high-quality active travel schemes. Wesley Wroe, Associate Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Engineer at Stantec comments:

“Any viable future for mobility in England must support our ageing communities, encourage healthier lifestyles, and pave the way for a low carbon, sustainable economy.

“The recently announced government funding for training local authority professionals in promoting active travel is a good step in the right direction. This investment will help upskill planning and highways teams across the country to ensure every metre of new highway being delivered will encourage the local population to walk, wheel and cycle rather than get in their cars.

"Councils must feel empowered to make bold decisions when conceiving of the streets of the future. One of the best ways to achieve this is by gaining insight and learning lessons from those already taking these steps, both in the UK and abroad.

“For local authorities, prioritising Active Travel may mean reallocating space on roads to create new cycleways, widening footpaths, introducing filtered permeability, creating contraflow cycle lanes, Dutch crossings or even new smart mobility hubs. However, whatever the design, this infrastructure ultimately needs to be shaped by the communities themselves, as well as their current and future travel patterns.

“At Stantec, we guide our clients on how to best deliver community-first, resilient active travel infrastructure. Our mobility experts and transport planners continually work with local authorities to identify barriers to sustainable development and create strategies and guidance that promote positive behavioural changes.

“Whether it's working with councils on developing guidance which rethinks streets design, prioritises walking and cycling over cars, or conducting robust action plans or active travel studies, our expertise boosts social value, and helps forward-thinking authorities create healthier, and more livable communities.”

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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Media Contact
Calum Metcalfe
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: +44 1612 458904
Calum.Metcalfe@stantec.com