EMCCA region secures more than £18m in Active Travel funding as ratings increase

Millions of pounds are set to be invested in improving walking and cycling routes across the East Midlands. 

Authorities in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are set to be awarded a share of more than £18 million to boost Active Travel such as walking, wheeling and cycling. 

It comes as Active Travel England publishes each local authority’s 2025 capability rating – with the highest-performing authorities awarded the largest amounts, while lower-rated authorities receive additional training, guidance and support to deliver more ambitious projects. 

Active Travel ratings

Authorities are rated 0 to 4, with Nottingham City Council receiving the highest rating in our region. This means the authority has demonstrated “very strong local leadership, comprehensive plans, and a significant network in place with a growing number of people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle”. 

Both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have also improved their capability rating for 2025 from 1 to 2, showing an improvement in their emerging active travel network.  

 Capability Ratings (2025) 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This year’s Active Travel capability ratings show both the progress and the challenges across our region. With nearly £19m allocated to our region to support safer routes and improved walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, we now have a real opportunity to accelerate change. Our goal is to make active and sustainable travel options safer and more accessible for everyone. We also look forward to EMCCA receiving its own rating in 2027 as our regional approach continues to develop.” 

Mayor Claire is also working on her own active travel plans through walking The Loop, a 150-mile active travel route which is designed to boost the visitor economy, celebrate local identity and promote healthier and green ways of getting around.  

The multi-year active travel funding is part of a £626m national package for walking, wheeling, and cycling schemes, announced in the Government’s Spending Review in June.  

It will fund 500 miles of new and upgraded footpaths and cycle tracks across England, supporting 170,000 greener, more active trips per day and advancing the Government’s Plan for Change goals on public health, safer streets, and economic renewal. 

This funding announcement comes during Mayor Claire’s biggest transport conversation in decades, asking for views from local people on how to make transport in the East Midlands easier to use, cleaner, and better connected. 

The Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation is running until 8 February 2026 – have your say on the transport network you want to see here.