Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in Scotland provided 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 used our knowledge and experience to back hundreds of projects across Scotland between 2010 and 2026.
The aim of Places for Everyone was 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 was funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and administered by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
Places for Everyone contributed 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.
Support
Partners were provided direct access to our knowledge and experience, as well as benefiting from our partnership approach leading to better outcomes.
This way of working helped ensure that the projects we were involved with, across all funding stages, achieved the best possible outcomes for communities across Scotland.
Design principles
In order to ensure all projects in the Places for Everyone programme made 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, and 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.
Partners who received funding are still able to log into our online grant application portal to review previous applications or grant information.
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.
A map of the projects constructed via the programme can be found here.
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 Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in 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 were comprised only of Walk Wheel Cycle Trust representatives.
Design (Stages 3-4) and Construction (Stages 5-7) Decision Making Panels included both Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and external experts.
Contact
Enquiries about the programme can be directed to: enquiries@walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk.
