A £1.5 billion vision to transform Greater Manchester into a world class region for cycling and walking was unveiled in Bolton yesterday.

Former Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman delivered his report on how to deliver a step change on the issue to council leaders at a meeting of Greater Manchester Combined Authority at Bolton Town Hall.

The ‘Made to Move’ report features ambitious targets to improve cycling and walking rates in a bid to improve air quality as part of the Mayor Andy Burnham’s green city agenda, as well as tackling congestion and improving public health and wellbeing.

Mr Boardman says he has already received encouragement from leaders in Bolton about making the town more cycle-friendly.

He said: “Bolton Council have been the first to say to me that this is great. I know that it is high up the agenda.

“As well as building new infrastructure, they have also said that they would consider improving what it already there.

“Everybody can see the potential of this.”

The 15-point plan includes proposals to publish a detailed 2018 Greater Manchester-wide walking and cycling infrastructure plan and establish a ring-fenced, 10-year, £1.5 billion infrastructure fund.

He added: “There’s no doubt that this is an incredibly ambitious but wholly deliverable plan to get Greater Manchester moving by bike and walking.

“The Mayor of Greater Manchester tasked me with thinking creatively, challenging assumptions and pushing the boundaries of what should be possible.

“My proposals, the product of many months of work, will ease congestion on our overcrowded roads, improve our general health and wellbeing and help us breathe cleaner air in a greener city-region. It will require significant support but the decades of improved living that we, our children and grandchildren will be able enjoy will make it worthwhile.”

Mr Burnham said: “When I appointed Chris, I asked him to produce a bold and challenging plan to get people cycling and walking. This report more than meets the test set, and together with Greater Manchester’s 10 council leaders, we are ready to rise to the challenge.

“It is now urgent, with Greater Manchester being asked to produce plans to tackle illegal air pollution.

“Chris has identified the need for substantial investment in our cycling infrastructure and in response, we are aiming to create a challenge fund of around £50 million a year from 2019 to 2021, which will be able to be accessed by our 10 districts if they are building to the required standard and meeting part of the costs.

“This will go a considerable way towards meeting the required funding challenge and we will provide initial funding next year to get things going.

“Investing in cycling and walking will not only improve the air that we breathe, it will help tackle our crippling congestion problem and improve our health, wellbeing and environment.”

The report also calls for measures that will help people across Greater Manchester to start to travel more actively by working closely with schools, businesses and the wider community.

A recent survey revealed that 77 per cent of people in the city-region are in favour of more protected cycle lanes even if it impacts on other forms of road traffic.