Southampton Walking Improvement Plan
The Southampton Walking Improvement Plan sets out our approach to improving key walking routes into the city centre and zones around district centres, including Lordshill, Shirley, Portswood, Bitterne and Woolston, and other major destinations, including Southampton General Hospital. The Plan highlights suggested improvements identified through walking audits that aim to make streets safer, healthier, more attractive and accessible for people walking and wheeling.
Cycling Southampton 2017-2027
In cities across Europe, and increasingly in Britain, cycling is becoming more and more popular. It is regarded as a quick and green way of getting around - whether this is for work, going to school, leisure or exercise.
Cycling Southampton 2017-2027 sets out Southampton City Council’s approach to investing in and realising our vision for cycling over ten years. We want cycling to be treated as a normal form of transport and create a liveable and thriving city.
The strategy outlines what work has already taken place, develops a policy approach for cycling and sets out a Delivery Plan of proposed improvements to the network to realise the vision for cycling in Southampton. You can read both the ten year strategy and the three year delivery plan in full from the downloads section at the bottom of this page.
The benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling
- Health - making active travel the norm in everyday life can reverse a lack of physical activity. This can help people lead healthy lifestyles which can in turn reduce health inequalities, save the NHS money, increase productivity and reduce absenteeism at work.
- Environment - most air pollution in Southampton comes from road traffic. Active travel is a low impact, zero emission way of getting around. This contributes to reducing CO2 and NOx emissions, improving air quality to create a more pleasant place to live.
- Strong & Sustainable Growth - creating a city where people travel actively for local journeys can benefit employers, residents and visitors by providing an affordable transport option that reduces high commuting costs and connects people to opportunities for work and training. People who travel actively visit shops regularly and spend more money than those who drive.
- Regeneration - putting active travel infrastructure into new developments can integrate them and create denser more people-centred environments for a green, attractive and modern Southampton.
- Transport - travelling actively can connect people with the places they want to go. This can help to reduce congestion by freeing up road space for businesses to move their goods and services. It also makes for a more attractive and reliable city.
- Social Inclusion - active travel provides an affordable way of getting around for people who do not have access to a private car allowing them to get to work, training or to ride for leisure.
- Safety - more people travelling actively will change the urban environment to make it safer for people to get around by bike by changing perceptions and reducing the number of accidents.
Walking and Cycling Index Reports
Southampton City Council, in partnership with Hampshire County Council, takes part in the Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust’s survey gathering people’s opinions on walking, wheeling and cycling in Southampton City Region.
The Walking and Cycling Index reports and interactive dashboard are available here.
Active Travel England Capability Assessments
Active Travel England is the government's executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling. They require us to submit annual capability assessments that are used to inform levels of funding for active travel.
Southampton City Council is currently assessed as being a Level 2 authority out of 4 which was been agreed with Active Travel England.
The latest capability assessment was submitted in September 2025, and it was proposed that Southampton City Council is a Level 3 authority. The outcome of the September 2025 assessment is expected to be confirmed in Spring 2026. A copy of our capability self-assessments, including the latest assessment for 2024/25, can be found here: