Organisations and businesses are now able to bid for a share of £1 million in funding in order to, in the words of the UK Government, “take active travel innovation to the next level”.
The Active Travel Innovation Fund was unveiled on 6th October 2025 by Active Travel England (ATE), which is the government’s executive agency responsible for making “walking, wheeling, and cycling” the favoured modes of transport among the country’s residents.
Sure enough, the new revenue fund is aimed at helping transform this into a reality. It will award individual grants of up to £100,000 to small and medium-sized businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to help deliver bold and innovative schemes.
What is the thinking behind the Active Travel Innovation Fund?
In its announcement of the competition, ATE stated that the funding was “designed to help develop new ideas or to expand on successful initiatives that are already making a difference.”
The agency said examples of this could include community projects that make it easier for underrepresented groups to commit to more active travel choices, or projects that work alongside local authorities to promote and enable sustainable travel, or that use digital tools to enhance safety and accessibility.
Ministers have claimed the funding will support the Government’s agenda “by backing entrepreneurs and creative and ambitious projects to kickstart economic growth.”
Hopes that fund will “help turn great ideas into real improvements”
Chris Boardman CBE, whose position as National Active Travel Commissioner gives him overall responsibility for ATE’s leadership, said the competition would “help turn great ideas into real improvements for people who walk, wheel, or cycle.”
He continued: “Enabling more people get about under their own steam is one of the most important interventions we can make to improve the nation’s health, so it’s crucial that we support bold projects that will help us do this.”
This sentiment was echoed by Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood, who said there were “huge physical and mental health benefits” from walking, wheeling, and cycling.
She added that the Government was determined to make these active travel methods “easy and safe choices for people across the country.”
What else do interested parties need to know about the fund?
As well as the financial boost, successful applicants will be given practical support from ATE and the Government Grant Managed Service (GGMS).
In the words of the Department for Transport (DfT), this assistance could encompass “help with building partnerships, connecting with new stakeholders, or setting up ways to measure and track the success of their projects.”
The funding period of projects is set to last for 12 months, after which, there will be an evaluation process. At this stage, each organisation will be asked to share a case study and a final report, outlining how the money has made an impact.
The window for applications to the competition is now active, and continues through to 14th November. Interested parties can find more information, including eligibility criteria, on the Government Find a Grant website.
In the meantime, if you are on the lookout for transport consultants who can provide guidance and expertise to help make your projects successful, please enquire today to your closest Transport Planning Associates (TPA) office.
