Wildlife & Countryside

Rights of way improvement plans

Image of horse riders on a country pathway

The existing rights of way network reflects historic patterns of travel - to work, school, church and family. It does not cater for all modern day demands, such as the growing pressure for access to countryside near people’s homes, and caters better for walkers than other users.

Local authorities were required to adopt their first plans by 21 November 2007, and must review and update them at least every ten years.

In preparing their plans, authorities are to develop proposals to improve and manage their networks to meet the needs of the public, looking at ways in which they can benefit health, transport, recreation, tourism and other local economic needs. The purpose of the plans is to encourage local authorities to take a strategic view of their rights of way network with the aim of reflecting modern patterns of demand and land use and providing better for the needs of users - particularly those that do not benefit from the right of open access (horse riders, cyclist etc.) and those with mobility problems.

Where can I find guidance on how to prepare a ROWIP?

Statutory guidance to local authorities in England on preparing, publishing, assessing and reviewing Rights of Way Improvement Plans was issued on 29 November 2002.

Where else can I find out about ROWIPs?

Have a look at the Rights of Way pages (on Natural England's website). From these pages you can access the Rights of Way Good Practice Guide - a website for rights of way staff to exchange information and experience about all aspects of rights of way work. This includes information about Rights of Way Improvement Plans.

How do I find out if my authority has completed a plan?

Check your local authority website, or call and ask to speak to the person who deals with public rights of way in your authority.

There is list of authorities who have completed plans, with links to the plans, on the Rights of Way Good Practice Guide.

How are ROWIPs linked to Local Transport Plans?

Between 2005 and 2010 ROWIPs and Local Transport Plans are gradually being integrated. This will help to deliver a more streamlined and integrated approach to sustainable transport in rural and urban areas. It should also open up further opportunities for funding rights of way improvements where the two plans share common aims. It does not mean that ROWIPs will disappear, only that the two documents will be very closely linked.

Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them integrate these two plans and is contained in:

Image of cyclistsFinal Local Transport Plans were submitted to the Department for Transport at the end of March 2006. Defra commissioned a report on the extent to which rights of way and rights of way improvement plans had been integrated into final Local Transport Plans.

This information has been shared with the Department for Transport and feedback has been given to local authority staff.

Page last modified: 17 February 2009
Page published: 23 October 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs