The COLLABORATIV (Collaboration Of Landowners and Local Authorities in the Building Of Rural Active Travel Infrastructure) project seeks to address the unique challenges of establishing active travel infrastructure in rural areas by fostering cooperation between landowners and local authorities. With dispersed settlements and complex land ownership patterns, rural regions often lack the necessary connectivity for effective active travel routes, limiting the potential for increased walking and cycling. Led by Jonathan Fuller, Principal Transport Strategy Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, and Dr. Felicity Heathcote-Marcz, Director of Bare Analysis, this initiative aims to explore best practices and solutions for overcoming these challenges.
“In some contexts, issues surrounding land ownership can hinder rural local authorities from realising their active travel goals,” notes Jonathan.
This project aims to bridge that gap by creating a framework for collaboration that enables local authorities to work in partnership with landowners, ultimately supporting sustainable and accessible travel options in rural areas.
Jonathan and Felicity met at an FTVG active travel workshop, where they quickly recognised the value of their complementary skills. Jonathan’s role within a local authority provides direct insight into the on-the-ground challenges of developing rural active travel infrastructure, while Felicity’s background in social research allows her to understand the perspectives of various stakeholders involved.
After discussing their shared objectives, they successfully secured FTVG funding to bring their project idea to fruition.
“By combining our expertise, we aim to offer actionable insights that can benefit rural communities across the UK,” Felicity explains.
Together, they hope to produce a resource that local authorities, landowners, and other stakeholders can use to foster a collaborative approach to rural infrastructure development.
The inspiration for COLLABORATIV arises from the limited research on implementing active travel infrastructure in rural areas, where disconnected towns and villages often hinder the effectiveness of such projects. Local authorities in rural contexts face the significant hurdle of landownership, as they seldom control all the land needed to construct continuous travel routes between settlements.
This project intends to examine how various local authorities approach landownership challenges, how they can garner support, and what mechanisms exist to aid project delivery.
The ultimate aim is to “highlight case studies of successful rural projects where landowners have played a supportive role, yielding co-benefits for the community,” according to Felicity.
The project’s findings will culminate in a practical toolkit offering guidance for local authorities on engaging landowners, addressing public concerns, and overcoming obstacles in the development of active travel infrastructure. Additionally, these insights will be beneficial for fostering collaboration with national organisations that can provide financial and logistical support to facilitate these projects.
The team’s methodology includes engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to capture a diversity of perspectives on rural active travel infrastructure challenges.
“So far, we have spoken with representatives from national organisations, rural local authorities, charitable groups, and even journalists who cover this sector,” Jonathan shares.
In the coming months, the team will visit rural active travel infrastructure sites that have successfully been implemented. These site visits will include face-to-face interviews with local stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, and council officers.
“These interviews will allow us to gather real-life case studies, providing tangible examples of the hurdles and benefits of these projects,” Jonathan explains.
By analysing these interviews and observations, the team will extract common themes and insights to inform their final deliverable: a best practice guide for rural active travel infrastructure development. This guide will be a valuable tool for local authorities, offering practical strategies for fostering partnerships with landowners and addressing logistical challenges in rural contexts. Additionally, the team hopes to expand this research through future studies involving a larger set of local authorities, with the ultimate goal of attracting further funding to support a broader, nationwide impact.
The early feedback from stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, underscoring a clear demand for resources that can assist rural communities in establishing active travel routes.
“We’ve been inspired by the dedication of local authorities, landowners, and community members who see the value in these projects,” says Felicity.
The team’s guide will not only assist local councils but also serve as a resource for charitable organisations, campaigners, and community advocates working to promote active travel.
Through the COLLABORATIV project, Jonathan and Felicity aim to pave the way for a more integrated, cooperative approach to rural active travel infrastructure. By bridging gaps between local authorities and landowners, this project holds the potential to drive positive social and environmental outcomes for rural communities across the UK. The team invites additional stakeholders to join their research efforts, hoping to broaden their understanding and strengthen the impact of their recommendations.