Windsor & Maidenhead Unveils Ambitious Four-Year Transport Investment Programme

New delivery plan sets out investment in highways, public transport and active travel, with major ambitions to boost walking, cycling and electric vehicle infrastructure by 2030.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has approved a new four-year transport investment programme that will direct funding into highway maintenance, public transport improvements and sustainable travel projects through to 2030.

Adopted by the council's Cabinet, the Local Transport Delivery Plan provides a long-term roadmap for improving the borough's 603-kilometre highway network while encouraging greater use of walking, cycling, buses and electric vehicles.

The strategy has been made possible following the Government's long-term transport funding settlement, providing the authority with greater financial certainty to plan and deliver infrastructure improvements over the coming years.

Supporting Cleaner, Greener Travel

At the heart of the new delivery plan is a commitment to reduce reliance on private car journeys by making alternative modes of transport more attractive, accessible and reliable.

Among the authority's key ambitions are increasing walking journeys by 50% and cycling trips by 75% by 2031, alongside continued investment in bus services and active travel infrastructure.

The borough also aims to ensure that 70% of homes without off-street parking are located within a five-minute walk of a public electric vehicle charging point, helping residents transition towards lower-emission vehicles.

Improving bus patronage also remains a priority, with the council seeking to increase passenger numbers so they are comparable with those seen across neighbouring Berkshire authorities.

Investment Backed by Long-Term Funding

Council leaders say the multi-year funding settlement from the Department for Transport allows the borough to move beyond short-term maintenance planning and develop longer-term investment programmes.

The approach is expected to improve value for money while enabling more coordinated delivery of highway improvements, transport schemes and sustainable travel initiatives.

Building on Recent Progress

The authority says the new programme builds on significant investment already delivered across the borough.

Recent improvements have included upgrades to traffic signal infrastructure, improvements to pedestrian crossings, enhancements to local bus services and an extensive programme of pothole repairs during 2026.

Those projects have contributed to bus patronage recovering beyond pre-pandemic levels while helping improve the reliability and safety of the local highway network.

Creating a Transport Network for the Future

Councillor Geoff Hill, Cabinet Member for Highways, Customer Services, Libraries and IT, said the strategy represents the next stage in developing a modern transport network capable of supporting residents, businesses and visitors alike.

He said:

"Our new Local Transport Delivery Plan builds on the significant progress we've already made towards creating a cleaner, greener and safer borough.

"By investing in sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling and bus services, while continuing to maintain and improve our highways network, we can ensure our transport system meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors for years to come."

A Balanced Approach to Transport Investment

Rather than focusing solely on new infrastructure, the Local Transport Delivery Plan combines investment in road maintenance with measures designed to encourage more sustainable travel choices.

By improving the condition of highways while expanding opportunities for walking, cycling, public transport and electric vehicle charging, the council hopes to create a transport network that is safer, more resilient and better equipped to support future growth.

With funding now secured through to March 2030, Windsor & Maidenhead says the programme provides the certainty needed to deliver meaningful improvements while helping meet wider environmental, economic and public health objectives over the remainder of the decade.