Natural England

How long does it take to create a Greenway?
The whole process, if done properly, will take several months at least. It should include community consultation, an assessment of demand, setting up a Steering Group, surveying possible routes and undertaking feasibility studies as well as the actual implementation. Although missing out one or more of these would speed the process up, it would more than likely result in an unwanted, under-used route. 

The initial period of the demonstration projects was 3 years, and it was only towards the end of this period that some of the implementation began. 

Who should I contact to help me get started? 
If you are not from a Local Authority, the Local Authority/Highway Authority will be a vital partner, and essential to get on board at an early stage. They will also have contacts for many of the others who should be involved, and will be able to help you through the process. 

The six demonstration projects are all featured on this website with contact details. Although it may be useful to speak to a demonstration situated near you, all of the demonstrations have a lot of information and advice to offer.

How do you form a Steering Group? Who should be involved? 
A Steering Group should involve relevant officers - not just access officers but also those involved in transport, planning, recreation and (if relevant to the area) tourism. 

It should also include user groups (including disability user groups) and community representatives. Some of the demonstration projects included Local Authority Elected Members on their Steering Groups - this gave the project political weight and helped them gain support. 

Information on the make-up of the Steering Groups of the demonstration projects is included in the Demonstration findings. One of the Demonstration Projects found that they operated better with a separate, smaller officer Working Group (which met frequently) which worked alongside a larger, more encompassing Steering Group (which met less frequently).