A project to make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle in Plymouth is already changing lives. We worked with Plymouth City Council and National Highways to deliver this exciting scheme on Route Two of the National Cycle Network.
Improvements include a new pedestrian zebra and parallel cycle crossing. Credit: Mark Dunk/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Fuelling the people powered movement
Safety is regularly cited as a barrier to walking, wheeling and cycling by many people. So we’re working in partnership across the country to make the National Cycle Network safer and more accessible.
The Cot Hill crossing scheme in Plympton, Plymouth is just one example of this. Construction started in July 2025, and the scheme opened in November 2025. It’s now easier than ever to get across the Cot Hill junction thanks to a range of measures. These include:
- A new pedestrian zebra and parallel cycle crossing
- A new dropped kerb crossing point and cycle on/off ramp
- A raised table crossing point
- The creation of wider, shared-use paths
Double yellow lines have also been introduced on the eastern (uphill) side of Cot Hill between Marshall Road and Dudley Road to help prevent obstructive parking.
The outcome is a safer walking, wheeling and cycling route between Saltram Park and St Mary’s playing field. It’s already improving accessibility and changing lives in Plympton.
Commenting on the scheme, Tom Macdonald, Network Development Manager from Walk Wheel Cycle Trust said: “The new crossing is a great example of how making changes to communities helps more people get around how they choose - be that walking, wheeling or cycling. Working with Plymouth City Council and National Highways the scheme has made the National Cycle Network more accessible providing the space for people to experience the joys of travelling actively every day.”
Credit: Mark Dunk/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
A Scandinavian vision rooted in volunteer action
The inspiration for this scheme came from our volunteers who had a much earlier vision to transform walking, wheeling and cycling in the South West.
They were inspired by Malmo in Sweden, a coastal city roughly the same size as Plymouth, where cycling use had gone from 2% of all traffic to a quarter.
Working in partnership with community groups, like the Plymouth Cycling Campaign, our volunteers sought a number of improvements right across Route Two of the National Cycle Network.
They quickly secured the support of organisations like the Dartmoor National Parks Authority and local councils.
In 2021 the MP for South West Devon, Sir Gary Streeter, accompanied volunteers on a ride along Route Two. He was keen to see the worst ‘hot spots’, which included the Cot Hill crossing. His advocacy helped to build a strong coalition leading to the improvements we see today.
Sir Gary Streeter (then MP) meets volunteer John Abraham in 2021.
Working in partnership pays off
As custodians of the National Cycle Network, we oversee the entire network and can direct resources effectively to projects where they maximise benefit.
To deliver this scheme we partnered with Plymouth City Council, who undertook the work and brought it to completion.
Commenting on the scheme Councillor John Stephens, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "This scheme makes a really big difference for people walking between Saltram and other parts of Plympton. It also further enhances city links of the popular National Cycle Network."
He added: "Road safety measures like this help residents walk and cycle more, which in turn improves health and wellbeing, while also reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. It’s great to see the new crossing being used by those living in and travelling through the area and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience during the construction.”
Credit: Mark Dunk/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Working with National Highways
These improvements cost £430,000 and were only made possible thanks to a grant from National Highways.
The funding was provided to us as part of a wider package worth £4.9m which is helping to improve the network right across the country.
Ed Halford, National Highways Route Manager, said: “At National Highways, our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads and through our designated funding, we’re investing in the environment and communities surrounding our network, as well as the people travelling and working on it, adding real value to society.”
The National Cycle Network
We own just a small part of the land the network runs across, which means we’re dependent on the support of others to deliver something that’s safe and accessible for everyone.
This vital infrastructure passes within one mile of around half of the UK population, and it provides a vital backbone to the country, connecting communities to each other and helping neighbourhoods come to life.
