Birmingham’s new Green Travel District to create healthier communities

A pioneering, sustainable, active travel initiative has been launched to encourage residents, workers and visitors switch from driving to cycling and walking in Birmingham.

The new Green Travel District (GTD) – which will cover the city’s Sutton Walmley & Minworth, Reddicap and environs – will help put people before cars ensuring that residents, workers and visitors have more opportunities to walk, wheel, cycle and take public transport.

The vision of the GTD is to get people physically active through travel, while also create an area with less congestion, less pollution, fewer accidents, and healthier, safer, more productive communities.

The formation of a GTD will bring together Birmingham City Council, Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, Warwickshire County Council, IM Properties, the Langley Consortium and Transport for West Midlands to coordinate activity across the area and ensure the necessary infrastructure, policies and supporting initiatives are in place.

Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport at Birmingham City Council said: “I am so pleased we have worked closely with partners to set up a Green Travel District for this part of Sutton Coldfield, bringing everyone together to discuss transport issues and collaborate on opportunities to enhance sustainable travel across the area.

“This is exciting news for the entire region and will see investment in schemes and initiatives that benefit all those living, working and travelling locally.”

Work towards the GTD has already been undertaken by IM Properties, the developer of Peddimore in and around the site to enable people to walk, wheel or cycle for local journeys. This includes a new footbridge over the A38 and plans to improve connections to local rail stations and the canal towpath, including better signage.

The first occupants of the Peddimore site, Amazon, have already created a travel plan detailing actions to promote sustainable travel to their staff and achieve the first level of accreditation with the national Modeshift STARS accreditation scheme.

David Smith, Director, Planning & Communities, IM Properties, development partner for Peddimore site, said: “Sustainable travel that prioritises walking, cycling and public transport is central to the Peddimore vision, connecting local people in Birmingham, Royal Sutton Coldfield and neighbouring North Warwickshire with new employment opportunities.

“We‘ve created a striking landscape setting that sensitively links with the surrounding area and provides attractive, safe, and accessible active travel routes. This contributes to an engaging and welcoming workplace, supporting the wellbeing of employees and visitors, while minimising impact on the environment.”