Member Spotlight: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
As part of our Member Spotlight series, we’re delighted to share news from Modeshift Corporate Premium Member, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, about an exciting programme they are delivering to create safer, healthier school neighbourhoods across England
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is delivering six School Neighbourhood pilot projects across England, jointly funded by Active Travel England and the participating local authorities. The pilots are being developed in Birmingham, Brighton, Coventry, Ely, Peterborough and Southampton, with all locations situated on, or adjacent to, the National Cycle Network.
These projects will demonstrate how community-led design can help create safer, healthier and more attractive neighbourhoods around schools. Working closely with local authorities, schools, residents and stakeholders, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust will apply its proven, nationally acclaimed co-design methodology, ensuring that local communities play a central role in shaping the future of their streets and neighbourhoods.
A key element of the programme will be the use of the Modeshift Active Travel Inspectors Tool, enabling schools to assess and better understand the walking, wheeling and cycling environment around their sites. Many of the participating schools are also engaged with Modeshift STARS, providing a strong foundation for encouraging sustainable journeys and supporting active travel behaviour change.
Over the coming months, comprehensive local engagement activities will help identify opportunities and develop solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of each community. The project team will begin the process without any preconceptions around potential outcomes, with the aim of reaching consensus-driven designs by March 2027. Capital interventions are then planned for delivery during the 2027/28 financial year.
Community-led School Neighbourhoods highlight the value of combining capital investment with meaningful community engagement. By involving local people from the outset, local authorities can build political support, address concerns early and create schemes that are more responsive to community needs, while contributing to wider objectives around independent travel to school, public health, safety and accessibility.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust would like to thank all local authorities and combined authorities taking part in this programme, as well as Active Travel England, for their continued support and commitment to delivering positive change for children, families and communities, while helping to achieve the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy target of 60% of children aged 5–16 travelling actively to school by 2035.
Authorities interested in learning more about how co-design approaches can support the development of School Neighbourhoods or other infrastructure plans identified in their Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are encouraged to get in touch. Walk Wheel Cycle Trust would be happy to share its experience and insights.
For more information, please contact Matt Barber at [email protected].
