Sustainable travel grants for businesses

North Somerset Council is supporting employers and visitor attractors that are promoting sustainable travel, with the aim of reducing single-occupancy car use. This covers journeys to and from work, or a visitor attractor and during the course of work.

Bike shed - example of use of sustainable travel grant

A new grant fund is now available for the 2011/12 financial year through the Sustainable Travel and Road Safety Team. This is the result of the council’s successful bids through the Joint Local Transport Plan and the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

What can the grant be spent on?

The purpose of the grant is to help employers promote sustainable travel.

Examples of eligible schemes include cycling facilities such as secure cycle parking and showers, pool bikes, improved on-site walking and cycling links, promoting car-sharing, schemes or facilities to promote public transport.

Motorcycling can also be encouraged where this will replace car journeys.

Use of the scheme will need to be monitored. If for some reason the scheme is then less successful than expected we may be able to assist to improve this.

Grants cannot normally be awarded where a Travel Plan or related measures are a planning obligation unless the proposals go beyond this, with a proven need. Neither can grants be awarded for a scheme in retrospect that has already been implemented.

How much can be awarded?

North Somerset Council can offer up to 100% of the external costs (not your own staff time), up to a maximum of £5000. For larger grants this will normally need to include an element of match-funding from the employer. This is limited to 40% where IT equipment is concerned. Grants towards the VAT element are not included. The absolute size of the grant will be limited by how many staff will be likely to benefit.

To apply for a grant

download and complete the application form.

Once North Somerset Council (NSC) have received the application form and considered your scheme, if it is eligible and there are sufficient funds you will be sent a letter offering the grant and asking you to sign to the following terms and conditions:

  • That the scheme is implemented within 6 months of receiving the grant;
  • Photographs and copies of receipts for the completed scheme are sent to NSC within 6 months of receiving the grant;
  • That if the scheme’s out-run costs are less than anticipated that the unused portion of grant be returned to NSC within 8 months of receiving the grant;
  • That NSC's contribution is acknowledged in any publicity;
  • That the impact of the scheme is monitored and monitoring information is sent to NSC one year after implementation.
  • If circumstances change for the recipient organisation and any facility funded by the grant is no longer in use after three years of receiving the grant, then a pro-rata proportion of the grant will need to be returned to North Somerset Council.

Contact

Kate Cochrane, Transport Planning Officer, Sustainable Travel and Road Safety, Highways and Transport, North Somerset Council, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ
Email: kate.cochrane@n-somerset.gov.uk
Telephone: 01934 426 404