Streets for All: Practical Case Studies

From Norwich to Petersfield, from Hemel Hempstead to Halifax, local authorities are increasingly recognising that improving the streets brings a range of benefits to everyone. Local businesses report better trade, more people are encouraged to walk and cycle, the streets become safer, more sociable places, and the historic character of an area is enhanced rather than degraded. Removing unnecessary signs, poles, bollards, barriers and road markings are just some of the changes being made by councils in a bid to improve our streets.

Streets for All: Practical Case Studies consists of a summary document plus ten leaflets, each on a different aspect of making better streets and each featuring a town or city where this has been put into practice. Aimed at local authorities and highways engineers, each leaflet contains detailed advice on issues to be considered and procedures to go through and lists relevant documents and legislation. They help practitioners understand the key elements that make up successful streetscape management. 

These practical examples, each of which is the subject of a separate leaflet, are:

  1. Fixing signs/lights and CCTV to buildings – Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
  2. Parking restrictions without yellow lines – Oswestry town centre, Shropshire
  3. Guardrails and crossings – Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, Norfolk
  4. Historic surfaces – Hawes, Yorkshire Dales
  5. Traffic calming – Petersfield, Hampshire
  6. Tactile paving – Chapel Street, Guildford, Surrey
  7. Non standard signs and best use of standard signs – Southgate, Halifax, W Yorkshire
  8. Reducing sign clutter – Erith town centre, Bexley, SE London
  9. Use of white lines – Latton, Wiltshire
  10. How to do a street audit – Melksham, Wiltshire

What's New?

  • The date and location of the next national Heritage Champion conference has now been confirmed. It will take place on 15 November at the Foundling Museum in central London.
  • Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond are concerned that the character of the country's urban spaces is being damaged and have urged local authorities to reduce the number of signs and other 'street clutter'. English Heritage shares this concern. We have produced detailed regional guidance and a series of practical case studies help promote the restoration of the character of our streets.