The document discusses the UK government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which provides funding to local authorities for projects promoting sustainable transport. The fund was announced in 2010 and aims to reduce carbon emissions and encourage economic growth through measures like improving public transport, walking, and cycling infrastructure. Projects from across England have received over £560 million in funding over four years. Recently, 30 new local schemes were approved for £113 million to implement sustainable transport solutions tailored to their individual areas. The fund supports the government's goals of stimulating green growth and making transport more sustainable.

1. Sustainable Transport
The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news
items for major features on the environment and transport in the next edition
In December 2010 Local Transport Minister, Norman Baker announced plans for a new Local
Sustainable Transport Fund. The fund was structured to challenge local transport authorities outside
London to develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce carbon in their
communities as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of
physical activity.
It is aimed at local partnerships – local transport authorities working with their communities – to
identify the right solutions for their areas which are financially robust and sustainable in the long
term.
Measures could include encouraging walking and cycling, initiatives to improve integration between
travel modes and end-to-end journey experiences, better public transport and improved traffic
management schemes.
The Government also announced that, in line with its localism agenda, it intends to pool the centrally
funded local transport grants to create fewer but larger funding streams which are largely formula
based.
At the time Mr Baker said:
"It is at a local level that most can be done to change patterns of behaviour and encourage more
sustainable travel, especially for short journeys.
"And in an environment of tighter budgets and greater local flexibility, the Government is determined
to reduce bureaucracy and make local transport funding more efficient.
“That is why we intend to pool the myriad of centrally funded local transport grants, to create fewer
but larger funding streams, largely formula based, and a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund."
The Government set aside the following LSTF funding for the following four financial years. For
every £1 of DfT funding provided for these schemes, £1.19 is being contributed by local authorities
and other partners.
£m 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Total
Resource 50 100 100 100 350
Capital 30 40 60 80 210
Total 80 140 160 180 560
In the first round of bidding for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund the Department received 73
bids from across England. In the second round of bidding, the Department received 41 Expressions of
Interest for Tranche 2 and 19 Initial Proposals for Large Projects. The deadline for short-listed Large
Project business cases is 20 December 2011, and the deadline for Tranche 2 bids is 24 February 2012.
Then at the end of last month, 30 further carbon cutting, growth boosting local transport schemes
were given the green light by Transport Minister Norman Baker.
The projects have won funding totalling £113 million as part of the second allocation from the Local
Sustainable Transport Fund. They are led by 29 English local authorities with many more as partners
and cover eight regions. All projects are designed to create a sustainable transport package that
delivers economic growth and reduces carbon emissions.

2. The successful schemes include a variety of measures including improving sustainable transport
options for commuters, creating public transport hubs, building better cycling infrastructure and even
providing a new ferry service.
Norman Baker said:
“The schemes we are funding today will benefit communities from Devon to Durham by cutting
carbon emissions, reducing congestion and stimulating economic growth in these areas.
“By investing in these projects we are signalling our commitment to green growth which will help to
kick-start economic activity in local areas while improving access to healthier forms of transport and
addressing the problem of climate change.”
The schemes to be funded include:
 Smarter Travel Slough which will reduce congestion on main roads in the rush hour by
increasing the use of walking, cycling and public transport. This will improve air quality and
health while supporting business efficiency.
 Walk to School Outreach will see Durham County Council working with national charity Living
Streets and eight other councils to increase the number of children walking to school in 854
primary and 182 secondary schools nationally. The project aims to reduce congestion and
improve health through exercise.
 Travel Torbay Regeneration Project will deliver a new fast ferry service between Torbay and
Brixham which will see journey times cut by half, a new cycle route to encourage more low
carbon journeys and a supporting package of employer based travel planning to help increase use
of public transport.
 Access to Jobs, Training and Services in Stafford will aim to reduce congestion at peak times
in Stafford by improving access to walking, cycling and public transport. People will be
encouraged to reconsider their travel habits through offers of discounted bus travel and a new
mobile cycle centre providing cyclists with information and advice as well as selling
reconditioned bikes.
 Sustainable Transport Access to Tourism on the Isle of Wight will improve the island’s
sustainable transport network to support its bid to become a leading destination for green tourism.
This will include the provision of transport hubs and easily-accessible live travel information to
help visitors and local people plan their journeys. Walking and cycling routes will also receive a
boost.
The May announcement relates to schemes seeking contributions from the Department of less than £5
million. Large projects which have been allocated funding of more than £5 million from the Local
Sustainable Transport Fund will be announced by the end of June 2012.
The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook will continue to report on the
success of the fund as we go through the months ahead.
Web: www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk