HEADLINES
No Friends! Blame the traffic: 19 September 2008
Research investigating the effect of traffic on community interaction and neighbourliness was published 20 years ago, and Josh Hart has now completed a more in depth study using the same techniques in Bristol.
Excert:
"Over the last ten years, researchers have found increasing evidence that the ‘walkability’ of ones neighbourhood is strongly correlated with the amount of physical activity undertaken by the individuals living within that neighbourhood. (Sallis et al 2004, Badland & Schofield 2005) It has been observed that in older neighbourhoods, residents tend to engage in active travel more often than those living in newer, caroriented neighbourhoods. (Berrigan and Troiano, 2002) Characteristics of “active community environments” include complete sidewalks and cycle routes, interconnected streets with low levels of vehicle traffic, and mixed land use with shops and community services located close to homes—a condition which is often made possible through higher densities. (Badland & Schofield 2005, Troped et al 2001)"
Read the full report
Peterborough's pPod: 11 August 2008
The development of an innovative, zero-carbon neighbourhood in the centre of Peterborough moved a step closer today as pPod (a consortium consisting of Morris Homes, Gentoo Homes, and Browne Smith Baker architects) was selected as the preferred developer for Phase 1 of the city’s South Bank.
Quality outside space will play an important role in this new development which will consist of 344 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable.
There will be a ‘green-spine’ with orchards and allotments, and canopy walkways alongside 650 sq m of retail floor space and 614 sq m of community space. Food production will be encouraged by the inclusion of an edible garden concept and a community café that will sell locally produced goods.
The pPod proposal also includes creative use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to give character to new public spaces. This includes wetland swales and more formal water courses.
Steve Carr, Director of Policy at English Partnerships, who is leading the Carbon Challenge initiative for the Government, said: “In the current economic downturn people are asking harder questions about the quality and value of new homes.
"The Peterborough pPod homes not only respond to climate change, they will also be more spacious and have lower energy bills This isn’t just about eco-living – it is about making new housing schemes a much better deal for owners and tenants by creating comfortable and cost-efficient homes for a range of incomes.”
A planning application will be made in early 2009 and pPod expects to start on site later in the year.
To read more about this project, visit the English Partnership web site.
Green Flag Awards: 17th July 2008
The best parks and green spaces across the country were announced today in Lewisham, East London by Baroness Andrews.
This year’s winners were announced from Green Flag Award-winning Bellingham Green, an area of Lewisham highlighted by government as a transformed area of regeneration, demonstrating how residents working together with public agencies can transform deprived neighbourhoods.
The winners will celebrate their achievements and collect their flags at a major ceremony in Liverpool on Thursday 24th July and will join the record 743 green spaces across the country who already received a Green Flag Award - the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.
The scheme is currently expanding nationally and internationally - three parks in Northern Ireland, one park in the Republic of Ireland, five parks in Scotland and two parks in Holland have this year also received a Green Flag Award due to ambitious pilot projects.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews said:
“I would like to congratulate all those whose hard work has resulted in this year’s green flag winners. In our busy modern lives, parks and green spaces are invaluable as areas where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play.
To see a list of the winners in your region visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk
Useful Documents
There are several key documents, some only recently published, which are key texts to read to help understand how to ensure public spaces support people who want to walk in them.
Firstly, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on promoting and creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity.
New NICE public health guidance on creating environments to encourage physical activity.
This guidance represents the first ever national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity to improve health. These recommendations are not only for the NHS and local authorities, but for all those who have a role or responsibility for a built or natural environment; including planners, transport authorities, building managers, designers and architects.
The guidance highlights that environmental factors need to be tackled in order to make it easier for people to be active in their daily lives.
Few planners, architects or engineers will have escaped hearing about Jan Gehl and Lars Gemzoe the two inspirational Danish architects who have produced the definitive text for ensuring people, places and spaces are provided for on the principle that Public Space = Public Life. For more information and a copy of their books click here.
"In a Society becoming steadily more privatized with private homes, cars, computers, offices and shopping centers, the public component of our lives is disappearing. It is more and more important to make the cities inviting, so we can meet our fellow citizens face to face and experience directly through our senses. Public life in good quality public spaces is an important part of a democratic life and a full life. The public realm is a place for all people, regardless of ethnic background, age, socio-economic class, disability, religion, or the like. Residents, visitors, students, workers, children, and the elderly must all be invited to meet in the public realm!” Jan Gehl, Architect, pioneer and international urban design expert.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have produced a prolific list of publications to support quality streets and public space design in England. Their recent Street Design Awards showcase the best in urban street design and are well worth a look. Interestingly, CABE recently announced a new travel scholarship and a police constable, a parks officer and a town planner are among the awardees being sponsored to travel to other countries and visit examples of well-designed spaces, gain an understanding of their delivery and management, and learn how similar ideas can be developed in the UK. Walk England will keep you in touch with what they find out!
We will be updating this page regularly so do come back often, send us links to other documents you think should be on here and let us know if there are areas you want us to research and summarise.