£8 million Challenge Fund available for low carbon and active travel projects

Public, community and third sector organisations can apply for European Regional Development funding to facilitate the delivery of active travel and low carbon transport hubs. Organisations will be able to bid for up to 40/50% of the total project cost with  the remainder of project costs provided through match funding.

A pre-application support fund was recently offered to thirty-nine projects interested in applying to the Challenge Fund to create hubs which could include a mix of bike hire, travel information, electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen refuelling stations.

The low carbon and active travel hubs will offer advice, support and information in order to encourage people to use active travel for their everyday journeys. Possible locations include; Park & Ride facilities, public transport interchanges or within town centres, health and leisure centre or education sites.

Transport Scotland appointed contractor Energy Savings Trust to deliver the Challenge Fund earlier this year.

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and The Islands said:

“I welcome this European Funding and I’m pleased to announce the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Funding is now available. It is a fantastic boost for organisations delivering active travel and low carbon transport hubs as it will enable communities throughout Scotland to benefit from more sustainable, greener travel options.

“Transport Scotland is the lead partner for this European funded programme and this Challenge Fund will identify successful active travel and low carbon projects to help deliver the commitments for new hubs and associated paths to support greener transport choices.”

Mike Thornton, Director of Energy Saving Trust Scotland said:

“We are keen to support organisations across the whole of Scotland to develop their applications for the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund.  We will be hosting webinars and surgeries in January and February 2017, to help those thinking of applying gain a better understanding of the application process, and we look forward to these.”

The funding was awarded to Transport Scotland under the European Regional Development Fund Programme to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, improve air quality through encouraging an increase in walking and cycling and uptake of low emission vehicles.

To apply to the Challenge Fund contact the Energy Savings Trust. The deadline for applications is 28^th February 2017.

Note to editors

• The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit our website or follow @scotgovESIF
• Transport Scotland is lead partner for the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme. http://www.transport.gov.scot/environment/low-carbon-travel-and-transport
• As part of the ERDF programme, Transport Scotland has committed to running a LCTT Challenge Fund and has appointed Energy Saving Trust (EST) to administer the Challenge Fund.
• Deadline for applications is 4 pm Tuesday 28 February 2017.
• EST is available to provide support to organisations with the application process. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/lcttchallengefund or contact LCTT@est.org.uk / 0131 555 8690.
• The pre-application support fund awarded funding (of up to £10k) to organisations interested in the ERDF Challenge Fund to help them develop their proposals. There was good geographical spread and a high level of interest from a range of public sector bodies, as well as a number of community and third sector organisations. See if an organisation in your local area was awarded PASF here: http://www.transport.gov.scot/environment/pre-application-support-fund-pasf