Cycling minister, MP Jesse Norman, has announced £21m to improve ‘significant’ on and off-road stretches of the 16,000-mile National Cycle Network, with a further £2m to encourage more people to cycle and walk, particularly children and young people.

Jesse said: “Cycling and walking are a key part of our plans to make transport cleaner, greener and more productive.

“This funding will help ensure that everyone can enjoy wonderful routes, which connect communities across the UK, and benefit from the huge health and environmental benefits of cycling.”

Sustrans will manage the allocation of the cash, which will fund ‘dozens’ of activation projects for upgrading the network that were identified in the recent Paths for Everyone report.

Sustrans chief executive, Xavier Brice, said: “As the custodians of the National Cycle Network we are very excited by this investment in transforming crucial links for communities across England, making it easier for everyone to walk and cycle.”

The £2 million aims to fund broader cycling and walking initiatives, including the Living Streets Walk to School outreach programme, which encourages young people to make walking a key part of their journeys from an early age.

According to the DfT, the scheme saw walking to school rates increase by 30% last year within schools supported by the scheme.

A spokesperson for the DfT said that it is estimated that the health benefits associated with walking and cycling on the network prevented 630 early deaths in 2017, and averted nearly 8,000 serious long-term health conditions.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.