Street design

Public realm

Street types

Streets and Public Realm

Street Design

Introduction

Responding to local context is just as important in the design of streets as it is in buildings and structures. The design of a new street should consider the intended land use, especially in new developments or in areas of regeneration where land use might be changing. The street design should clearly show how this response has been achieved.

Features of street design

  • Appropriate height to width ratio between street and neighbouring buildings
  • Active and overlooked street edges
  • Balanced distribution of space for multi-modal travel
  • Encouragement of active travel modes
  • Accessible public realm and crossings

SPSD 1

Active travel and street hierarchy

Examples of an active travel street

Safe separated cycle lanes provided where space allows on all new streets, alongside adequate facilities for storage

Slow active travel (walking, wheelchairs, pushchairs)

Fast active travel (cycles, mobility scooter, scooters)

Furnishing zones (furniture, lighting, dining areas)

Road infrastructure (carriageway, bus stops)

Parking (cars, deliveries, electrical charging)

Green / blue infrastructure (SUDs, street trees)

Pedestrian footway

Wheelchair accessible

Cycle accessible lane

Scooter accessible lane

Mobility scooter accessible lane

Buffer zone for cycle lanes

Furnishing zone

Outdoor dining zone

Carriageway for cars

On-street parking and charging

Street trees

Sustainable Urban Drainage

SPSD 2

Safe streets and attractive public realm

Street width calculator

Use the calculator below to visually see what uses can be provided in streets of different width. 

SPSD 3

Futureproofing

SPSD 4

Street trees, SUDs and landscaping

Principles of sustainable urban drainage

Swales

Shallow channels that provide attenuation while also channelling water to other features such as ponds.

Soakaways & Filter Drains

Shallow ditches and trenches filled with gravel or stones that collect uncontaminated water and allow it to percolate into the ground.

Rain capture

Water butts and other rainwater harvesting systems collect rainwater for use in gardens or for non-potable uses reducing water consumption.

Rain Gardens

Containers and ditches with native drought tolerant plants release water gradually and flter-out pollutants.

Permeable Surfacing

Surfaces that allow water to percolate into the ground including, natural surfaces, gravel and low traffic volume engineered road surfaces and hardstandings in front gardens.

Basins and Ponds

Attenuation ponds that are normally dry but fill  during a rain event and then either store or gradually discharge water to the system.

Reedbeds and Wetlands

Topography can be used to create wetlands that provide attenuation capacity as well as filtering out pollutants and providing habitat for wildlife.

Street tree planting

SuDS designed into highway provision can provide dual use benefts when integrated with street tree provision.

Built examples

Street Trees

Sustainable Urban Drainage

SPSD 5

On-street car parking

Example of on-street parking

Built examples of on-street parking

Principles of on-street parking

Provide accessible spaces

Wherever street parking is provided, accessible spaces must be provided in compliance with national regulations

Integrated landscape

To reduce the visual impact of parking and to provide rain gardens, landscape must be integrated alongside spaces

Permeable surfacing

Permeable paving surfaces should be used wherever possible to allow water to naturally drain

Street design case studies

Abode, Cambridge

Abode, Cambridge by Proctor and Matthews / BBUK Studio Limited for Countryside Properties Timber cladding, gable ends, a pedestrian focused public realm and generous planting

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Egham Gateway

Egham Gateway master plan by Allford Monaham Morris Egham Gateway is a new mixed use development in the Runnymede borough of Surrey. Four mixed use

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Permeable paving options