• Funding for first phase in major new scheme supporting sustainable transport in East Runcorn
• Scheme will eventually serve Runcorn East station, Sci-Tech Daresbury and Daresbury Garden Village
• New cycle routes and footpaths as well as improved pedestrian crossings and upgrade of highway to be funded

A cyclist on the recently installed cycle route on the Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn.

Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced that more than £17.5m is to be committed to a new pedestrian and cycle link for East Runcorn, supporting sustainable transport, employment and housebuilding in the area.

This first tranche of funding – approved at June’s meeting of the Combined Authority – will be used to install new cycle routes and widened footpaths along the A56, as well as improving and upgrading existing highways infrastructure, including pedestrian crossings and road surfaces

The ambitious East Runcorn Connectivity scheme eventually aims to create a safe, high-quality active travel route between the town centre and key locations including Runcorn East rail station, Sci-Tech Daresbury and the new Daresbury Garden Village residential development.

Plans for further phases of the scheme are currently in development at Halton Council and are expected to be submitted to the Combined Authority later this year.

Funding for the project is to be drawn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a pot of £710m set aside for major transport infrastructure projects across the Liverpool City Region.

Subject to funding being approved at this month’s Combined Authority meeting, construction work on the scheme is set to begin this summer, with plans for completion by autumn 2026.

The new link is part of wider plans to deliver a 600km network of walking and cycling routes across the six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral – with more than 260km set to be delivered by the end of 2026.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Since I was first elected Mayor, I have been committed to encouraging and supporting active travel as part of my mission to build the world class transport system the Liverpool City Region deserves.

 “Across all six boroughs, we’ve invested more than £70m to upgrade our walking and cycling routes to the rest of our network, linking entire communities up to areas and opportunities that were previously out of reach.

 “This new scheme in East Runcorn will create new, green transport connections across the area, joining up new and existing developments such as Sci-Tech Daresbury the new Daresbury Garden Village.

 “It is a key part of my plan to build a London-style public transport network that is faster, cheaper, cleaner, better connected and, crucially, gives people a quality and efficient alternative to driving their car. 

 “The more people we can encourage people to walk or cycle, particularly for short journeys, the faster we can hit our net zero targets, reduce congestion on our roads and improve the quality of air we breathe.”

 Cllr Stef Nelson, Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board member for Environment and Renewal, said:

“It’s great to see investment in schemes which encourage sustainable modes of transport and enable network resilience in the borough. I look forward to seeing this scheme up and running and leading on to a wider project at a later date.”

Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said:

“It is fantastic to see this new funding being committed to help create better walking and cycling connections between Runcorn and Daresbury.

 “Halton already lends itself to cycling and walking and this scheme will help continue to join the dots.

 “Linking communities, reducing carbon emissions, helping people to be healthier – schemes like this one give us an amazing opportunity to help change the way we think about travelling around our local area.”