• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Transform Scotland

Transform Scotland

  • About Us
        • Our team
        • Our members
        • Contact us
        • About us

  • Our Priorities
        • Safe places for active travel
        • Zero-carbon connectivity
        • Zero-carbon public transport
        • Zero-carbon investment
        • Fair transport pricing
        • Our priorties

  • Our Work
        • Publications
        • Our projects
        • A Wee Walk
        • Consultancy
        • Cross Party Group
        • Our work

  • Latest
        • News
        • Alerts
        • Events
        • Latest

  • Join us
  • Donate

Trams to Newhaven — Member Profile for June 2021 newsletter

17 June 2021

by Transform Scotland

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

Trams to Newhaven Supporting Local Businesses  

Now 18 months into construction, the Trams to Newhaven project is making visible strides in its progress. The project, which will add 4.69 kilometres of track to the existing Edinburgh tramline, is set to take its first paying customers by Spring 2023.

Connecting Leith and Newhaven to the city centre and adding eight new stops, Trams to Newhaven will offer residents access to high capacity light rail. This will sit alongside the existing Lothian bus service, as well as improved cycling and walking infrastructure along the route.

Construction commenced in November 2019, while at the same time a £2.4 million support for business package for local businesses was also introduced. This package includes an open for business marketing campaign for the local area, an art mural trail and a voucher scheme for independent businesses. In partnership with deal website Itison, the discount scheme allows customers to purchase vouchers online to spend in local stores at a discounted rate. The discount is funded by the project and local businesses receive 100% of the vouchers value. This scheme has proved extremely popular with Edinburgh locals, with vouchers selling out within days of release. So far over £150k worth of vouchers have been sold for redemption in small businesses across the construction route.

A small mural trail was also launched in Leith last Summer. This mural trail comprises of over 20 utility cabinets on Leith Walk and Constitution Street, exhibiting the work of local aspiring and established graffiti and street artists. Artists have often themed their designs around the unique and diverse culture of Leith, with boxes inspired by local folklore and the neighbourhood’s motto ‘persevere’. Hoped to enliven the area, further murals are set to be added to the art trail later this year.

Furthermore, Trams to Newhaven has a dedicated business support service. This service aids small businesses affected by construction to engage in training and development activities. Delivered via the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, training courses such as ‘Social Media for Small Businesses’ and ‘Small Business Branding’ have been launched to ensure these businesses not only survive the short-term strain of construction but thrive following the introduction of trams into Leith.

You can find out more about Trams to Newhaven, further support for business measures and the project’s progress at tramstonewhaven.co.uk

NewsPublic transport

Share

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn
Back to Latest

Latest posts

‘Mind the Gap’: New inquiry reports transport system excluding majority of Scots

17 June 2025

A new report published today (Tuesday 17 June) by the Cross Party Group on Sustainable Transport reveals that Scotland’s transport system is systematically excluding many Scots — especially women, disabled…

Read more

NewsActive Travel Equalities Investment Policy Public transport

A new traffic reduction policy: Our response

13 June 2025

Transport Scotland has released a new policy statement after its 20% car traffic reduction target was called into question, Public affairs manager Laura Hyde-White said: We welcome the Government’s continued…

Read more

NewsPublic transport

Scottish bus manufacturing jobs on the line: Our response

12 June 2025

In today’s First Minister’s Questions, MSPs are discussing the news that up to 400 jobs are at risk at Scottish bus maker Alexander Dennis. The company plans to close down…

Read more

NewsPublic transport

UK Spending Review funds must be prioritised for scottish Public Transport

11 June 2025

Today’s UK Spending Review, including the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves of £15.6 billion in new investment for local transport infrastructure in England, marks a major step forward for public…

Read more

NewsInvestment Public transport

Sign up for email updates

We'll send you news on our work, plus other updates about how you can get involved in Scotland's campaign for sustainable transport.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies policy
  • Credits
  • Accessibility
  • Work for us
  • Leave a legacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

© 2025 Transform Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC041516)