It has awarded Suffolk a total of £12,537,098 for the period 2026/27 to 2029/30 to invest in footpaths, infrastructure, and cycle lanes.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport Strategy said: “This is a fantastic amount of money for important schemes and a vote of confidence by ATE in the work we are doing.
“Congestion and pollution are the bane of our bigger towns, which is why it is important that we develop a network of measures to encourage people out of the car wherever possible.
“We have to make it easier for residents and businesses in our towns to get around without having to rely on private vehicles which do so much to clog up our roads.
“Reducing congestion frees up road space for the traffic that does need to be there and creates a cleaner, better environment for everyone.”
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: “The aim of Active Travel England is to give people more everyday choice in how they get around, by creating safe, accessible and welcoming streets.
“We are not just building infrastructure — together, we are creating communities: places where parents feel confident letting children travel independently, and where older people can reach local shops with ease. We are building life back into our streets.”
In Spring 2023 ATE awarded SCC £7.9 million to develop active travel schemes, followed later that year by £1.495m as part of the then-government’s national walking and cycling Social Prescribing pilot.
A further £3.7 million active travel funding was awarded in February this year.
The money has been used in a variety of ways, including most recently new pedestrian crossings in Bridge Street and College Road by Ipswich Waterfront.
Improved cycle routes include from Ipswich Hospital to the Waterfront area, Nacton Road in Ipswich, Main Road in Martlesham, and within Woodbridge as part of the town’s active travel project.
The latest ATE award for future funding to Suffolk is part of a funding package for councils in England totalling more than £626 million.
The announcement comes days after the Department for Transport announced it was awarding Suffolk nearly £27 million to run and enhance bus services and infrastructure between 2026 and 2029.
