APPENDIX 1 - DESIGN PRINCIPLES

.Bradford Trident Masterplan.

APPENDIX 1 - DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Introduction

This Annex sets out the design principles, which have provided the building blocks of the Masterplanning approach. The principles have been derived from best practice and design guidance from a number of sources including:

Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships

Urban Task Force (1999), Towards an Urban Renaissance: Final Report of the Urban Taskforce, DETR

National Playing Fields Associations (unknown), Open Space Requirements, NPFA

Childrenís Play Council, (unknown), Home Zones: Reclaiming Residential Streets, National Childrenís Bureau Enterprises Ltd

Transport 2000 (1999), Living Streets,Transport 2000 Trust

Planning Policy Guidance Notes, DETR, various

Salford City Council (2001), Supplementary Planning Guidance: Designing Out Crime, Salford City Council

www.towerblocks.ork.uk National Sustainable Tower Blocks Initiative

In addition to drawing on the best practice set out in the above documents, the principals set out in this appendix also draw on the direct experience of Building Design Partnership in designing other urban regeneration and masterplanning projects in which the latest thinking on design and development is implemented. These include:

Allerton Bywater Millennium Community, Leeds

Westoe Millennium Community, South Shields

Smithfield, Manchester

However whilst examples from elsewhere are useful it is important that the design solutions and the building blocks of the Masterplan closely match the needs and aspirations of the local community and also respect to the unique characteristics of the area.

Context

By context we mean the historical, social and geographical setting of the area. The consideration of context is important to ensure that development is coherent with the existing conditions of the a site and its surrounding area and can be effectively incorporated into that area. In relation to context, the Urban Design Compendium sets out six key priorities, namely:

Strengthening local communities - a community lead process incorporating the views, custom and policy of local communities and other stakeholders;
Creating a sense place - having regard to regional identity and local character in terms of urban form, socio-economics, natural features and linkages to surroundings;
Harnessing site assets and resources - working with assets in terms of natural resources, landscape and buildings and enabling brownfield land to be re-used;
Integrating with its surroundings - understanding existing linkages and movement patterns and integrating new movement provision into that network;
Ensuring feasibility - the economic constraints in terms of supply & demand, funding and ownership and the; and
Creating a vision.

The remainder of the Annex is structured under headings of key issues and concepts, under each of which the key principles are set out to demonstrate how these principles can be implemented in practice. A series of images showing best practice is contained at the end of this annex.

MIXED USES

IDEAS & ISSUES

Combining the primary activities of living and working support secondary facilities of a commercial, leisure or community based nature and this palette of uses will serve to make a place
Compatible uses - with adequate consideration at the detailed design stages most conflicts between uses can be resolved however the needs of individual uses must be known to avoid the potential for conflict.
Mixing uses can take place vertically (e.g. living above shops) or horizontally (e.g. offices next to apartments)
Mixing uses also takes into account mixing tenures to add variety to the types of housing and ownerships and avoids the development exclusive or deprived neighbourhoods
Mixing uses allows vibrant centres to develop which are used throughout the day and night.
Mixing uses can also enable areas with specific character or identity to develop such as the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham.

BENEFITS

More convenient access to facilities
Travel to work congestion is minimised
Greater opportunities for social integration
Socially diverse communities
Visual stimulation and delight of different building within close proximity
Greater security afforded by extended hours of activity
Greater energy efficiency and more efficient use of space
Increased choice of lifestyle, location and building type Urban vitality and street life
Increased viability of urban facilities and small business such as corner shops

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Mixed use and tenure offers the potential for workspace or community facilities to be included in redevelopment proposals
Most developments could include an element of mixed use
Transition Zones between city centres and suburban neighbourhood such as the masterplan area offer great opportunities for mixed use

FURTHER READING

Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships
Urban Task Force (1999), Towards an Urban Renaissance: Final Report of the Urban Task Force

NEIGHBOURHOOD / VILLAGE UNITS

IDEAS & ISSUES

Mixed use development is best promoted through the creation of village units in which the facilities required by the community can be accessed within walking distance
400m or 5mins walk is generally accepted as maximum distance which people must walk to access a neighbourhood centre with corner shop, a bus stop and open space
An area must be sufficiently densely populated to support these facilities, for example a bus stop requires c500 people within its catchment to make it viable.
Such neighbourhood units should be well connected to the movement network by a range of means of transport

BENEFITS

Neighbourhood units go hand in hand with mixed use development which create vitality in areas and with high density development which improves the viability of the provision of goods and service
With basic facilities available within easy walking distance and higher order facilities accessible through public transport decreased use of the car is enabled
Village / neighbourhood units help to create a sense of community in which people know and look after each other

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

The concept of neighbourhood unit impacts upon the design of developments by discouraging the creation of ëestatesí and single us areas
More dense and walkable neighbourhoods could lead to environmental benefit such as decreased need for car use and increased viability of services such as recycling and public transport.

FURTHER READING

Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships
Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport

HOUSING AND STREETS

IDEAS & ISSUES

Areas of housing should be sufficiently dense to support the provision of local services
Safe and secure streets and houses are essential to urban communities, one way of achieving these is through the creation of Home Zones / Play Streets
Homes zones are areas in which pedestrians and cyclists have priority in the streets and children can play safely without danger from cars
Traffic speeds are dramatically slowed down to 10 mph through traffic calming
A new emphasis is given to streets through planting, street furniture, rearranged parking and use of alternative landscape materials
Traditional streets of terraced housing or courtyard developments lend themselves well to the home zones concept.

BENEFITS

Street become a public place for all residents to use and this greater use leads to lower levels of crime and fear of crime because of increased activity
Home zones help to create good relations between residents strengthens community links
Home zones make it safer for children to venture past their front gate alone and play in the street and safer for old people and those with disabilities to walk in the street
Physical activity is encouraged which improves the health of communities
Encourage walking and discourages use of the car thereby decreasing noise and air pollution
Parking can be safely and securely accommodated in on street lay-byís or within courtyard developments
Street and parking areas are overlooked by houses increasing safety and reducing crime
Home zone schemes have been successful throughout Europe and in pilot schemes in the UK

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Home zones are especially compatible with neighbourhood units as they promote walking and cycling and enable high density urban neighbourhoods which support shops, services and public transport
Home zones / play street offer significant contributions to the network of spaces within a neighbourhood
The increase street activity and secure parking afforded by home zones is an important crime prevention design feature

FURTHER READING

Children's Play Council, (unknown), Home Zones: Reclaiming Residential Streets, National Childrenís Bureau Enterprises Ltd
Transport 2000 (1999), Living Streets, Transport 2000 Trust
DETR (2000), Planning Policy Guidance: Housing, DETR

DESIGNING OUT CRIME

IDEAS & ISSUES

Crime is not just a social but also a design issues and there are many ways in which crime can be combated through the design of developments
The definitions between public, semi-private and private space should be clearly marked by a physical or symbolic barrier (fencing or change of landscaping materials for example)
Each property should include an element of ëdefensible spaceí within it which distinguishes the change in ownership and enables individual character to show
Streets, walkways, open spaces and parking areas should be overlooked and benefit from increased security of the natural surveillance of surrounding properties, courtyard parking is a good example of this which should be designed to enable
Architecture should foster an element of territoriality giving actual or psychological ownership to users of a space
CCTV and lighting can be used to great effect in educing crime and the fear of crime
Alleys to the rear of properties and those obscured by planting, corners or any other places to hide should be avoided
Cul-de-Sacs are vulnerable to crime
Mixing uses and creating wider hours of activity reduces crime

BENEFITS

Crime and the fear of crime against the person which are a major barrier to night-time activity in some areas is reduced by surveillance and lack of hiding places for criminals
Homes and cars are safer from crime through clearly defined public and private spaces overlooked by properties
A sense of ownership and community pride can be fostered by designing in territoriality and defensible space
Increased hours of activity make for more vibrant places

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Mixing uses is a key element of designing out crime and offer new opportunities for residents
Home zones are highly compatible with the key themes in designing out crime

FURTHER READING

Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships
Salford City Council (2001), Supplementary Planning Guidance: Designing Out Crime, Salford City Council
DETR (1994) Circular 5/94: Planning Out Crime, DETR
DETR (2000), Planning Policy Guidance 3: Housing, DETR

TOWER BLOCKS

IDEAS & ISSUES

Tower blocks offer appropriate accommodation to many members of the community and have many desirable features and can be popular amongst those without young children
Gardens and staircases within homes are often unpopular and tower block can provide for these desires
Where tower blocks are structurally sound, improvements can be made to make the safe, sustainable and attractive to residents
Such improvements could include: enclosing the space around towers to improve security, especially around parking areas; recladding and lighting to improve the external appearance of blocks; and the provision of a concierge / security service for tower blocks
Mixing uses at ground floor level is also possible and could provide residents with access to community / leisure facilities or shops / services

BENEFITS

Tower blocks afford high density urban living which makes the provision of shops, services (such as recycling) and public transport more viable
Tower blocks can effectively cater for the needs and desires of some members of the community
Effective environmental and security improvements can enable tower block to make a positive contribution to appearance and character of neighbourhoods

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Tower Blocks can incorporate a mix of uses and give new opportunities for residents and improved access to facilities.

FURTHER READING

Cunningham J. (2001), 'Tall Order' in Guardian Society, 28 February 2001, Guardian Newspapers
www.towerblocks.ork.uk , National Sustainable Tower Blocks Initiative

SPACES

IDEAS & ISSUES

Urban communities should have access to a network of spaces which can be civic or play space, formal or informal, open or within streets such as home zones
All residents should be within 100m of an area in which small children can securely play (e.g. play streets), 400m of a local park with at least 5 pieces of childrenís play equipment and within 1000m of a neighbourhood park with at least 8 pieces of play equipment for teenagers / young people
Consideration should be given to the needs of small children, young people and adults in the provision of spaces
Children's provision should include robust play facilities within a secure environment, whilst youths may want informal ëkickaboutí space or special facilities such as skate ramps, and adults may like parks to walk, sit and relax
Home zones and play street add an extra dimension to the provision of spaces at a localised level
It is important to define the role of spaces (i.e. for children, young people or adults) so that the potential for conflict between users is minimised
Access to spaces should be easy and routes to them safe

BENEFITS

Increased access to high quality open spaces catering for the needs of all sections of the community will increase the levels of activity and health
Environmentally, parks and open spaces provide a ëgreen lungí for urban communities
Well designed spaces which are overlooked and secure mean that children and young people can play out in a safe environment
Green spaces provide important urban habitats for wildlife

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Secure route through spaces encourage walking and cycling and can make for a pleasant trip to access local shops and services within a neighbourhood unit, minimising the need to use the car
Along with home zones, open spaces form part of a the movement and recreational network of a neighbourhood

FURTHER READING

National Playing Fields Associations (unknown), Open Space Requirements, NPFA
Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships

MOVEMENT

IDEAS & ISSUES

There is a need to create a network of safe convenient routes for walking, cycling, public transport and cars
New direct routes linking nodes of activity should be created to ensure that the areas is walkable
The various modes of transport must share the streets
Vehicle speeds in residential areas should be radically slowed down using home zone principles of traffic calming, landscaping and pedestrian / cyclist priority
Pedestrian / cycle routes should be safe, secure (overlooked where possible) and well lit.
Provision for public transport should be a key consideration
New development should focus around nodes of activity and movement such as local centres where shops, services and public transport is provided, densities in these locations should be high to make public transport more viable
New connections to places people want to visit should be made

BENEFITS

The reliance on the private car is reduced as realistic and safe alternatives are available
Decreased car use has benefits for the environment and traffic problems
Street become active for longer periods because people feel safe using them, this enable a wider ranges of uses to occur within a neighbourhood
Less use of the car and increased use of alternative forms of transport increase activity levels and health amongst the population

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

The successful creation of networks of movement and open space are vital to the success of each other
Home zones and reduced crime enable increased movement and increased hours of movement
Increased movement and street activity creates vibrant neighbourhoods and enables mixed use

FURTHER READING

Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships
Urban Task Force (1999), Towards an Urban Renaissance: Final Report of the Urban Task Force, DETR

DESIGN

IDEAS & ISSUES

Good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere
The image and perception of an area to residents visitors, business and other stakeholders is heavily influenced by the quality of design of the physical environment
The highest possible quality of design should be sought in all types of development and in all areas
A balance must be struck between ensuring high quality design and not discouraging development through the additional costs required for high quality design
The public realm, and other areas in the responsibility of public agencies should set an example for private developments through high quality design and materials
High quality design should incorporate public spaces
Design offers significant opportunities for the involvement of local communities in shaping the environment in which they live and work

BENEFITS

The image and enjoyment of an area can be dramatically improved by quality design in buildings and public areas making the areas a delightful place to live and work
If an area has a good image, interest in the area and investment are likely to increase
Commentate participation in design gives a sense of ownership and shared responsibility for looking after an area

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

High quality design should impact on all development including buildings (new and refurbished) spaces and routes.

SPACES

IDEAS & ISSUES

Urban communities should have access to a network of spaces which can be civic or play space, formal or informal, open or within streets such as home zones
All residents should be within 100m of an area in which small children can securely play (e.g. play streets), 400m of a local park with at least 5 pieces of childrenís play equipment and within 1000m of a neighbourhood park with at least 8 pieces of play equipment for teenagers / young people
Consideration should be given to the needs of small children, young people and adults in the provision of spaces
Children's provision should include robust play facilities within a secure environment, whilst youths may want informal ëkickaboutí space or special facilities such as skate ramps, and adults may like parks to walk, sit and relax
Home zones and play street add an extra dimension to the provision of spaces at a localised level
It is important to define the role of spaces (i.e. for children, young people or adults) so that the potential for conflict between users is minimised
Access to spaces should be easy and routes to them safe

BENEFITS

Increased access to high quality open spaces catering for the needs of all sections of the community will increase the levels of activity and health
Environmentally, parks and open spaces provide a'green lung' for urban communities
Well designed spaces which are overlooked and secure mean that children and young people can play out in a safe environment
Green spaces provide important urban habitats for wildlife

LINKS & OPPORTUNITIES

Secure route through spaces encourage walking and cycling and can make for a pleasant trip to access local shops and services within a neighbourhood unit, minimising the need to use the car
Along with home zones, open spaces form part of a the movement and recreational network of a neighbourhood

FURTHER READING

National Playing Fields Associations (unknown), Open Space Requirements, NPFA
Llewelyn-Davies (2000), Urban Design Compendium, English Partnerships

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