Sustrans wins the People's £50 Million

Sustrans’ Connect2 was voted the winner in the Big Lottery’s People’s £50 Million Lottery contest; the biggest ever award to be decided by a public vote.

Sustrans’ Connect2 is a UK-wide project that will create new cycling and walking routes to improve local travel in 79 communities across the country, including Leicester and Leicestershire.

On receiving the news they had won, John Grimshaw, chief executive and founder of Sustrans said: "To say I am delighted is such an understatement – this is fantastic news for Sustrans.

"But, more importantly, it is fantastic for the 79 communities and many other partners and local authorities across the UK with whom we have been working for the last two years. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us, but the hard work starts now to build those bridges, tunnels, crossings and networks of paths. Ultimately the real winners will be those millions of people who will now be able to Connect2 their shops, schools, workplaces and each other every day."

Four projects of national significance went head-to-head in a bid to win the massive £50 million grant, each receiving an initial grant of £500,000 to invest in their project’s development. The three other projects in the running for the grant were:

• Eden Project: The Edge
• Sherwood: The Living Legend
• Black Country Urban Park

For more information visit the People's Lottery website.