North Northamptonshire Council secures over £55 Million in Government funding for local transport infrastructure
08 July 2025
North Northamptonshire Council has welcomed a major investment from the Department for Transport (DfT), securing £55.3 million in additional capital funding to enhance transport infrastructure, improve road safety, and expand walking, cycling, and bus networks.
This funding is in addition to the £15 million per year already allocated through the Council’s General Fund Capital Programme.
The funding will be the subject of a report to the council’s Executive meeting on Tuesday next week.
The new funding includes:
- Active Travel Fund 5 – £0.191 million
- Consolidated Active Travel Fund – £0.508 million
- Local Transport Grant – £54.588 million
The scale of this funding allows us to deliver projects that will make our transport network safer and more accessible for everyone.Cllr Chris McGiffen, Executive Member for Highways and Travel
This funding gives us the flexibility to address both immediate needs and long-term goals. We’re working to identify the most impactful projects and will phase approvals as we gain certainty on costs and deliverability.
The Council remains committed to engaging with residents and stakeholders throughout the process to ensure the improvements reflect local needs and deliver lasting benefits.
Active Travel Improvements
The Council plans to use the Active Travel Fund 5 to deliver a contra-flow cycle lane on Montagu Street in Kettering, identified as the highest priority scheme in the Kettering Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
The Consolidated Active Travel Fund will support the development of further priority schemes in Corby, Kettering, and Wellingborough, with public consultation planned later this year to help select the next project for delivery.
This marks the first time councils have received active travel funding on a formula basis, allowing for more strategic planning. The funding must be committed by March 2026 and construction completed by March 2027.
Local Transport Grant
The £7.728 million Local Transport Grant for 2025/26—rising to over £54 million by 2029/30—can be used for a wide range of transport schemes, including road maintenance, safety upgrades, and traffic signal improvements. However, it cannot be used for major new road or rail projects.
This grant replaces the previous Integrated Transport Block funding and enables the Council to deliver schemes that were previously unaffordable. It also allows for a significant increase in highway maintenance investment.
Next Steps:
- Public consultation on active travel schemes will begin later this year.
- A phased programme of Local Transport Grant projects will be developed and approved.
- A further report will be brought to the Executive in early 2026 to confirm the next priority scheme for delivery.