Sustrans Scotland provides advice, support and funding for the creation of infrastructure that makes it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys. Funded by Transport Scotland, we’ve used our knowledge and experience to back hundreds of projects across Scotland since 2010.
The aim of Places for Everyone is to create safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive places which are enjoyed equitably by increasing and diversifying the number of trips made by walking, wheeling or cycling for everyday journeys.
The scheme is funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and is administered by Sustrans.
Places for Everyone contributes to the Scottish Government’s aim for a healthier, environmentally sustainable nation with a strong economy and communities, as laid out in the National Performance Framework.
The Places for Everyone Programme will be coming to an end in December 2025.
Support
Partners receive direct access to our knowledge and experience, as well as benefit from our partnership approach that leads to better outcomes.
This way of working helps ensure that the projects we’re involved with, across all funding stages, achieve the best possible outcomes for communities across Scotland.
Design principles
In order to ensure all projects in the Places for Everyone programme make the largest possible impact, we set six design principles as the minimum criteria for funding:
- Develop ideas collaboratively and in partnership with communities.
- Facilitate independent walking, cycling, and wheeling for everyone, including an unaccompanied 12-year old.
- Design places that provide enjoyment, comfort and protection.
- Ensure access for all and equality of opportunity in public space.
- Ensure all proposals are developed in a way that is context-specific and evidence-led.
- Reallocate road space, and restrict motor traffic permeability to prioritise people walking, cycling and wheeling over private motor vehicles.
All designs were assessed against how well they achieved the design principles.
Additional requirements for all Places for Everyone projects
In addition to the minimum design principles stated above, Places for Everyone project applications were required to:
- Ensure infrastructure was of a specification that would remain of high functional quality for at least 15 years and would accommodate both current and future needs.
- Conduct Equality Impact Assessments and ecological appraisals.
- Mitigate any predicted negative equalities or ecological impacts of the development. Deliver biodiversity enhancement wherever possible.
Places for Everyone projects
Please visit our dedicated partner website for more information on what has been funded, latest projects and evaluation of historical projects.
Existing partners can also log into our online grant application portal to review previous applications or ongoing projects.
Find out more
Take a look at some examples of the bold and innovative projects delivered through Places for Everyone.
Funding stages
Places for Everyone funding was awarded across the year in groups of project stages for Concept (Stages 0-2), Design (Stages 3-4), and Construction (Stages 5-7).
Concept (Stages 0-2) is about broadly defining the scope of a project and its desired outcomes. Partners are expected to carry out initial engagement with stakeholders and to outline the total expected costs.
Design (Stages 3-4) involves carrying out developed and technical tasks in order to make a project workable. Partners use funding at these stages to clearly define their interventions, test implementations and undertake significant community engagement.
Construction (Stages 5-7) is when a project is built. At this point, the project can be closed out and formalised into use in the community.
How were projects selected for funding?
Applications received for the Places for Everyone programme were reviewed by Decision Making Panels.
The Decision Making Panels were made up of experts from across Sustrans Scotland and external partners with expertise in urban design, active travel and transport management.
Panel members reviewed the Places for Everyone team’s assessments of project deliverables based on set criteria, which also considered Places for Everyone’s aims and design principles. Panel members then made a decision, and a summary recommendation was provided.
Concept (Stages 0-2) Decision Making Panels comprised of Sustrans Scotland members only.
Design (Stages 3-4) and Construction (Stages 5-7) Decision Making Panels included both Sustrans Scotland and external experts.
Contact
The Places for Everyone inbox will be open until December 2025 for enquiries.
Enquiries after that date should be directed to: enquiries@sustrans.org.uk.
