Pocket Places

Sustrans Scotland’s Pocket Places Programme supports communities across Scotland to find simple, quick solutions to improve the look and feel of their streets.

The programme is funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland.

Work with our Pocket Places team

Sustrans Pocket Places programme is open to community groups, housing associations, business improvement districts and other community-led initiatives to improve their area.

The applicant must be willing and able to take ownership of the project and take on any maintenance required.

It will be up to residents, local councils, businesses and community members to decide together what will happen in their area.

Using this feedback, we’ll come up with designs and solutions to improve a street, and provide the support and resource necessary to make the change.

Changes could be temporary or semi-permanent.

They could include one-off events such as street closure or pop-up parks. Longer-term solutions are also being trialled including benches, planters, crossings or artworks.

And, there is always the option for the changes to be made permanent.

We provide solutions to help create greener, more attractive spaces for people to travel through and spend time in

We make small-scale improvements to inspire larger-scale change

We support community-led design that puts resident’s ideas and views at the forefront of decisions

Examples of our projects

Craigie Place Pocket Place

Residents, school pupils and artists worked together on installations designed to make an area of Perth a better place to walk, wheel, cycle and live.

The square where Craigie Place meets Glenearn Road and Windsor Terrace has been resurfaced and a designated cycle path installed. Also among the improvements are the installation of benches, cycle parking and raised beds for planting. 

The improvements were developed by Sustrans Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council together with the community, Inch View Primary School, St Mary Magdalene’s Church and artists Eleanor Young from Fun Makes Good and Hamish Bigg from Bigg Design.

A parent and child are shown walking past a mural of artist and suffragette Ethel Moorhead in Langlands Street, Dundee

Stobswell Pocket Places

A community group has helped to enhance an area of Dundee.

The Stobswell Forum community group has worked in partnership with Sustrans Scotland, Dundee City Council and Scottish Water to design and install permanent enhancements on five routes off Albert Street.

Residents and visitors can now enjoy an incredible mural of artist and suffragette Ethel Moorhead by Alloa artist Michael Corr on Langlands Street.

Painted paving, a new bench made from climate-friendly materials and cycle parking have also been installed on the busy route.  

How can you apply?

At this time we are unable to progress any new application for the programme. We anticipate we will be in a position to accept new Expressions of Interest in 2023.

Please keep a look out for further information and promotion in 2023.

Get in touch with the Pocket Places Team

pocketplaces@sustrans.org.uk

0131 346 1384