The document discusses the differences between streets and roads. Streets are designed to serve both movement and place functions by providing access to buildings and public spaces, while roads mainly focus on accommodating motor traffic movement. Successful street design requires balancing both movement and place priorities. The document then outlines five steps for improving streets: tidy up, de-clutter, relocate/merge functions, rethink traffic management, and re-create the street. It provides case studies demonstrating the application of these steps in Bexley Heath, London, Ashford, Kent, and Poynton Town Centre.

1. Hurst Lane Place Workshop
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
23rd
April 2013

2. Streets and Roads

3. So – what is a street anyway?
• “A street is a highway that has important public realm functions beyond the movement of traffic”
(Manual for Streets)
• Streets have a sense of place and are distinctive
• Streets are lined with and provide direct access to buildings and public spaces

4. What are roads for?
‘The word ‘road’ derives from the
Old English word for a journey on
horseback: a road was something
(Dictionary of Urbanism)
‘Roads are essentially highways whose main
function is accommodating the movement of
motor traffic.’
(Manual for Streets)

5. Streets and Roads

6. Design choices need to
respect both the
Movement and the
Place functions of
streets
Place Status
MovementStatus
Motorway
High Street
Residential Street
Rural Lane

7. Movement
Place
Place
Place
Place
Place

8. What are streets for?
Movement
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Buses
Cars
Deliveries
Parking
Place Shopping Playing Socialising Eating/drinking Sitting Events

9. Place Shopping Playing Socialising Eating/drinking Sitting Events
What are streets for?
Movement
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Buses
Cars
Deliveries
Parking

10. Place Shopping Playing Socialising Eating/drinking Sitting Events
What are streets for?
Movement
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Buses
Cars
Deliveries
Parking

12. Steps to Better Streets

13. Steps
1. Tidy up
2. De-clutter
3. Relocate / merge functions
4. Rethink traffic management options
5. Recreate the street

14. Initial Condition
Before…

15. Stage 1 – Tidy Up
Step 1 – Tidy up

16. Stage 2 – De-clutter
Stage 2 – De-clutter

17. Stage 2 – De-clutter
Stage 3 – Relocate / merge functions

18. Stage 4 – Rethink Traffic Management
Stage 4 - Rethink traffic management options

19. Stage 5 – Re-create the Street
Stage 5 - Re-create the street

20. Case Study – Bexley Heath, London

22. Albion Road / Church Road (Trinity Place)

23. Albion Road / Church Road (Trinty Place)

24. Albion Road / Trinity Place – approx. 2000 vehicles / day

25. 1. Represents a gateway to the town centre from the west as well as a
public space.
2. Maintain the primacy of the Trinity Chapel elevation and the key
architectural statement.
3. Introduction of a new roundabout at the approach of Albion Road to
Trinity Place will help reduce traffic speed and will also unlock adjacent
redevelopment sites
Outcomes

27. Arnsberg Way junction with Mayplace Road West

29. Arnsberg Way / Mayplace Road West

30. 1. New development opportunities and tree planting along Arnsberg Way
creates greater enclosure along road.
1. Removal of traffic signals from three junctions on this road improves
traffic flow while retaining pedestrian accessibility and significantly
contributes to the integration of this road with the main part of the
town centre.
Outcomes

34. Case Study – Ashford, Kent

35. Before…

37. Ashford Ring Road – 3 years on
Has it worked?

39. Case Study - Poynton Town Centre

40. Before…

43. Improvements

52. Key changes:
• Revitalised village centre
• Shifted thinking in relation to
shared space
• 88% of businesses
experienced an increase in
footfall
• £4 million scheme cost