Urban design and planning

We make our streets safer, greener and more welcoming for all users.

cycle lanes and crossings in Edinburgh city centre

Interested in working with us? Get in touch with our team.

Rachel Toms, Director of Urbanism at Sustrans

Rachel Toms

Director of Urbanism at Sustrans

Our team of expert designers is passionate about championing ambitious ideas that put people at the heart of the designs.

Making better streets for people with Healthy Streets Design Check

The Healthy Streets Design Check is helping local authorities, urban designers, transport planners and highways teams create healthier streets for everyone.

Find out about the Healthy Streets Approach and check tool

An introductory guide to low-traffic neighbourhood design

We've created an introductory design guide to outline the approach, tools and techniques needed to design a low traffic neighbourhood.

Take a look at the design guide

Three people are in conversation as they walk over a small wooden bridge in Tower Hamlets, London. A leafy green tree is to the left of them and tall buildings are in the distance.

Calling for spatial planning reform

We’re working as part of the Better Planning Coalition to seek revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework. We’re calling for changes to spatial planning policy in England because the planning system has a vital role to play in creating places which enable everyone to live healthier, happier lives.

Read our six proposed amendments 

Girl cycling towards the camera along bridge

Re-allocating road space to make walking and cycling safer during Covid-19 and beyond

At Sustrans we want to support local authorities to adapt streets, roads and places during the Coronavirus crisis and as we emerge from it.

So we've put together a list of measures that local authorities can implement and information on how we can help.

Find out more about re-allocating road space in your Local Authority area

What is urban design and planning?

Urban design is the design and planning of cities, towns, streets and spaces.

And at Sustrans, we think these places should be places that prioritise the people who live and spend time there.
  

How does Sustrans do urban design?

we create places that connect us to each other and what we need, where everyone can thrive without having to use a car.

Sociable places where friends and facilities are a short walk away, and it’s easy and pleasant to travel beyond our neighbourhood.

We don’t work alone to create liveable towns and cities.

We bring together the people who live and spend time there, including those with seldom-heard voices, to make the change they want to see.

We have made a clear commitment to putting people-centred place making at the heart of what we do.
Daisy Narayanan, Director of Urbanism

  
Examples of our urban design and planning work

Sustrans project officer looking at a school street plan with children

Creating Healthy Streets and Liveable Neighbourhoods

Lewisham Council commissioned us to deliver a community-led design project on Rolt Street to demonstrate community support for the scheme to TfL. We were then commissioned by the council to work on their bid and secured them £2.9 million from the Mayor of London’s Liveable Neighbourhood fund for work in North Deptford.

Healthy streets and liveable neighbourhoods in Lewisham

Dunblane Stirling Street redesign

We worked with Stirling Council and the local community and businesses to reimagine the approach to the towns' railway station, to create a space that feels more welcoming, is people friendly and inclusive.

Dunblane Stirling Street redesign
Two young professionals walking through a train station talking, one with a bicycle

Future of Mobility - Urban Strategy - our response

Sustrans response

Read our response to the Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy