Cumberland Council secures £4.5m funding boost for Active Travel

Cumberland Council has welcomed confirmation from Active Travel England that the authority will receive a multi‑year funding settlement worth £4.5 million to support walking, wheeling and cycling across the area.

The funding, provided through the Government’s Local Transport Consolidated Settlements managed by the Department for Transport, will be allocated as follows:
 

• £910,076 Capital per year for four years (2026/27 to 2029/30) – totalling £3.64 million
• £285,543 Revenue per year for three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) – totalling £856,000

Together, this represents a significant investment in Cumberland’s active travel infrastructure, giving Cumberland Council long term certainty to plan, design and deliver schemes that make it easier and safer for people to choose sustainable travel.

The allocation is based on Cumberland’s population and its Active Travel Capability Rating, which has been confirmed as Level 2 on a scale of 0–4 following a self‑assessment completed in the summer. The grading indicates strong organisational capability and local leadership, and clear plans that form the basis of an emerging active travel network, with a few elements already in place on the ground. Higher capability ratings attract higher levels of funding, reflecting the Council’s commitment to improving active travel opportunities.

Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure, said: 

“This funding is a real vote of confidence in our ambition to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more accessible for everyone in Cumberland. The multi‑year settlement means we can plan ahead with certainty, delivering more schemes that connect communities, reduce congestion, and improve health and wellbeing. We look forward to working with residents and partners to ensure these investments make a lasting difference.”

To find out more about Cumberland Council's Active Travel programme and funding, visit the website page Active Travel | Cumberland Council