Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate the creation of paths along rivers and canals.

This Government committed in its manifesto and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England, as part of our plans to improve responsible access to nature. In May 2026, this Government launched the first of these National River Walks, the Mersey Valley Way in Stockport, delivering improved accessibility along a 21.5km route, habitat restoration, new opportunities for access for diverse users, as well as extensive community engagement.

This Government will launch a competition to identify the next National River Walks later in 2026. They will be expected to deliver access which is multi-user, accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling and/or horse riding. An economic assessment of cost, benefits and value for money of the applications received will take place in accordance with the standard government process for the awarding of grant funding.