Tuesday June 16th 2026
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Changes to how national funding is allocated to active travel projects — like new cycle lanes — in Glasgow are causing “uncertainty” over delivery.
Glasgow City Council has committed to providing around 270km of segregated cycle routes — but only 54.4km is now expected to be delivered by 2032.
Active travel programmes in the city have been reviewed after Transport Scotland moved from a multi-year funding model to single-year allocations.
Councillors will be asked to approve a new scaled-back delivery framework, known as ‘Connecting Glasgow’, on Thursday, which outlines the council’s priorities over the next six years.
A report, to be presented by Cllr Angus Millar, SNP, city convener for transport, states the City Network programme had been developed when multi-year commitments were “standard practice”, with “the expectation that investment in active travel infrastructure would increase year-on-year”.
That method had enabled long-term planning, the report adds, but “recent shifts in national funding policy — specifically the move to single-year allocations — have disrupted this model, introduced uncertainty and required a more agile and deliverability-focused approach.”
Funding is now available via a “competitive bidding process” to Transport Scotland’s active travel infrastructure fund (ATIF).
The council report states while there are benefits to the new model, it also creates greater competition for limited funds and there is uncertainty from the funding body as to when money may be received.
There will also be “continued uncertainty” each financial year over the level of funding available, it adds. It is suggested projects could stall between design stage and construction if funding is not secured in future years, and “stop-start delivery” could lead to “cost escalation, loss of design continuity and reduced community buy-in”.
Projects could also be reduced in scope to “reflect what can feasibly be delivered in a financial year” and the time available for community engagement will be reduced, the report adds.
Under the Connecting Glasgow framework, it has been recommended to take a “strategic corridors first” approach and consider “gap closure” to connect routes with existing infrastructure and committed projects.
The report adds the council “remains committed to delivering approximately 270km of segregated cycle routes across the city”. Routes which have not been prioritised at this stage will be reviewed in 2027/28 to “identify a suitable delivery approach”.
The council will “continue to advocate for greater levels of funding for active travel to meet the scale of Glasgow’s ambition and opportunity, and to highlight the significant constraints caused by single-year funding arrangements”.
Councillors agreed in March to write to the Scottish Government to highlight the council’s concerns with funding changes. A Transport Scotland response acknowledged the concerns, but noted the “challenging medium-term financial position facing the Scottish Government”.
It added the transport agency is “exploring ways to improve financial visibility, reduce unnecessary volatility, and strengthen the operability of funding for established programmes”.
Under the revised plan, works are set to be carried out at Alexandra Park Street and Alexandra Parade, Bilsland Drive, Broomloan Road, Byres Road, Dumbreck Road, Langside Avenue and Minard Road, Queen Margaret Drive, Titwood Road, Duke Street, Sauchiehall Street and Great Western Road.
A full list can be found here.
The report adds it should be “noted that the projects within the Connecting Glasgow delivery plan, remain subject to technical feasibility and revised costing”.
A Connecting Glasgow programme board will be set up to oversee the projects.
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