Cycling Scotland welcomes success of popular Social Housing Partnership Fund

The first round a fund for registered social landlords in Scotland to encourage more people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys has been oversubscribed, providing funding for 46 projects from 33 social housing providers, a progress report into the initiative has revealed.

Cycling Scotland launched its Social Housing Partnership Fund (SHPF) last year in partnership with Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Living Streets and Sustrans to make it easier for residents living in social housing to walk, cycle and wheel.

Grants were offered to social housing providers (SHPs) to improve cycle parking, storage, shelter and security at their properties. It also funded street furniture, planters and community gardens.

The 46 projects from 33 social housing providers to have utilised the fund have enhanced cycle storage and other associated facilities in 116 social housing sites within areas of high deprivation.

Early feedback that the fund has achieved many of its planned ‘change mechanisms’ such as:

  • increasing reach of active travel partnerships into the social housing sector
  • ensuring facility funding is inclusive to SHPs and those living in socially disadvantaged areas
  • helping to build capabilities for procuring and installing cycling infrastructure and supporting active travel amongst those working in the social housing sector.

The progress is available here.

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