England Hockey Backs Active Streets Manchester, 2026

Key Points

• England Hockey has officially pledged support for Manchester City Council’s Active Streets Programme, aiming to create safer, healthier neighbourhoods through reduced traffic and enhanced active travel.
• The programme targets specific Manchester wards including Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Harpurhey, and Ancoats & Beswick for initial rollouts with traffic calming measures.
• Key features include school street closures during peak times, bus gate prioritisation, and 20mph speed limits to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists, and children.
• England Hockey emphasises hockey’s role in fostering active lifestyles, with over 12,000 grassroots participants in the North West relying on safe routes to training and matches.
• Manchester City Council leader, Councillor Bev Craig, highlighted the programme’s focus on giving children safer streets to play and travel independently.
• The initiative aligns with national goals for net zero emissions and healthier urban living, backed by evidence from similar schemes showing 30% drops in traffic volumes.
• Funding comes from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, with community engagement planned through workshops and surveys starting March 2026.
• No opposition mentioned; broad consensus from sports bodies, council, and residents on benefits for mental health, air quality, and reduced child road casualties.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) March 03, 2026 – England Hockey has thrown its weight behind Manchester City Council’s innovative Active Streets Programme, a bold initiative designed to transform local neighbourhoods into safer, healthier spaces for walking, cycling, and community life. Announced via an official statement on the England Hockey website, the endorsement underscores the sport’s commitment to grassroots participation amid growing urban traffic challenges. This support arrives as Manchester rolls out traffic calming measures in targeted wards, prioritising active travel over car dominance.

What is Manchester’s Active Streets Programme?

The Active Streets Programme, spearheaded by Manchester City Council, seeks to reclaim streets for residents by implementing low-traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph zones, and temporary closures around schools. As detailed in the council’s consultation documents, the scheme targets Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Harpurhey, and Ancoats & Beswick, areas plagued by high child road casualties and poor air quality.

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, stated, “Active Streets is about giving our children the freedom to play, cycle, and walk to school safely – something too many families have lost to congested roads.” This aligns with data showing Manchester’s child road deaths 20% above the national average.​

England Hockey’s backing amplifies the programme’s reach, linking it to sports accessibility. The organisation notes that safe streets directly impact the 12,000+ North West hockey players who depend on cycle-friendly routes to clubs.

Why Did England Hockey Offer Its Support?

England Hockey’s decision stems from a shared vision for active communities, as articulated in their official release. “Hockey thrives when streets are safe for all – from young players cycling to training to families walking to matches,” said CEO Jenny Bidwell in the statement.

The programme resonates with hockey’s grassroots ethos, where 70% of participants are under 18 and travel actively. England Hockey highlighted how similar schemes in London reduced accidents by 40%, citing Transport for London’s evaluation reports.

As reported by the England Hockey media team on their site, this partnership includes promotional campaigns urging hockey clubs to advocate during public consultations launching in March 2026.

Which Areas Will See the First Changes?

Initial pilots focus on four deprived wards: Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Harpurhey, and Ancoats & Beswick. These were selected based on crash data, with Miles Platting alone recording 150 incidents in 2025.

Manchester Mirror’s coverage confirms bus gates will prioritise public transport while filtering non-essential car traffic. School streets – closing roads at drop-off times – aim to cut kerbside congestion by 60%, per council pilots.

Residents can expect modal filters (bollards blocking through-traffic) and widened pavements, all trialled for six months before permanence.

How Will Active Streets Improve Road Safety?

Safety is paramount, with the programme addressing Manchester’s 25% rise in pedestrian injuries since 2020. Councillor Yasmine Dar, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester, explained, “By slowing speeds to 20mph and removing rat-runs, we’re saving lives – especially our children’s.”​

England Hockey echoed this, noting hockey kids face double the urban cycling risks. Evidence from Bristol’s Mini-Holland scheme shows 50% fewer casualties post-implementation.

Enforcement involves ANPR cameras for bus gates, with fines funding further cycling infrastructure.

What Community Engagement is Planned?

Public input shapes the rollout, with workshops from March 15-30, 2026, across affected wards. Online surveys via Manchester.gov.uk will run until April, ensuring resident voices lead.

England Hockey plans club-led events, distributing 5,000 leaflets on benefits like cleaner air (projected 15% NOx reduction).

As per council FAQs, 80% of trial participants in prior schemes supported expansion, informing this inclusive approach.

Who Funds the Active Streets Initiative?

Secured via the £27m Levelling Up Fund allocation in 2023, costs cover signage, bollards, and resurfacing – £2m per ward initially. No council tax rises needed, as grants cover 100%.

England Hockey contributes non-financially through advocacy, amplifying bids for future Active Travel England funding.

What Benefits Do Locals Expect?

Beyond safety, benefits include better mental health from outdoor activity, with council studies projecting 10,000 extra daily walks. Air quality improvements target WHO limits, aiding asthma-prone areas like Gorton.

Hockey’s involvement promises youth engagement, with clubs hosting free ‘cycle-to-hockey’ sessions. Economic perks: reduced congestion saves 500 NHS bed days yearly from pollution-related illnesses.

How Does This Fit National Trends?

Manchester joins 50+ UK councils in low-traffic neighbourhoods, mirroring Sadiq Khan’s London push. National Highways data shows active travel up 25% where schemes succeed.

England Hockey positions this as a blueprint for sports bodies nationwide, urging Hockey Wales and Scotland to follow.

What Challenges Might Arise?

Critics, though few, worry about emergency access; council assures blue-light exemptions via sensors. Business impact studies predict neutral effects, as 90% trips are local.

England Hockey addresses this: “We’ve consulted emergency services – safe streets mean faster ambulances sans gridlock.”

Statements from Key Figures

Jenny Bidwell, England Hockey CEO: “Supporting Active Streets safeguards our sport’s future by making Manchester playable.”​

Councillor Bev Craig: “This is Manchester leading on health and equity – cleaner, greener, safer for all.”

Future Rollout Timeline

Phase 1 trials begin June 2026, full implementation by 2027 if approved. Expansion to 10 more wards eyed, with England Hockey monitoring impacts.

This comprehensive backing from England Hockey signals strong momentum for Manchester’s shift to active urban living.