Creating healthier better connected communities
Date published:
The Chamber’s latest column for The Journal by Erika Armanino, knowledge and research executive
Twelve regional mayors, including North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, have pledged their support for a new National Active Travel Network aimed at creating safer and more accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes across England, with a particular focus on school journeys.
Set to launch in autumn 2025, the programme will deliver around 3,500 miles of safe routes linking homes, schools, high streets and transport hubs. In the North East, more than 100 kilometres of new infrastructure is planned by 2027, connecting key areas such as Whitley Bay to Blyth and Washington to Sunderland.
The initiative will begin with 1,000 schools and 300 designated safer routes, featuring upgrades such as traffic calming, improved crossings and pedestrian-friendly pavements. These measures are designed to make active travel easier and more appealing for families and children, particularly on school runs.
For the North East, this investment is especially significant. The region continues to face lower than average health outcomes, and creating everyday opportunities for people to move more can have a lasting impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Encouraging active lifestyles through better infrastructure not only supports individual health but also helps reduce demand on local health services.
Backed by more than £900m in government funding, the project reflects a growing recognition of the role active travel can play in creating healthier, greener and more connected communities.
The North East Chamber of Commerce welcomes this multi-region initiative.
Safer, greener commuting supports healthier communities, reduces pressure on public services and boosts local economies. Promoting sustainable and inclusive transport is vital to the long-term health and prosperity of our communities, and we look forward to seeing the benefits take shape across our region.