Introduction
Irvine, North Ayrshire
There is growing concern that the design of many housing layouts has become dominated by the technical and engineering requirements of road design. We need to change our approach towards street design in new developments, if we are to realise our ambitions to produce better quality, more attractive and safe residential environments.
This Planning Advice Note ( PAN) provides advice on the design of better quality residential streets. It focuses on some key factors which can create successful street design. It also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of those involved. All of this is then brought together in 5 case studies which provide examples of good practice.
How to use this PAN
Grangemouth, Falkirk
The PAN has been produced in line with the Scottish Executive's drive to promote the design agenda. It follows on from Designing Places and forms part of the design based series of PANs. In particular, it complements, and should be read in conjunction with, PAN 67 Housing Quality.
The advice applies to everyone engaged in the planning, design and approval of streets in new residential developments including planners, road engineers, architects and developers. In particular, it means that planners and engineers should work more closely together.
Road standards are the responsibility of local authorities. These have been developed over many years of professional practice and experience. In response to the Executive's increasing emphasis on design quality, some local authorities have recently revised, or are in the process of revising, their road standards. It is anticipated that those local authorities yet to revise their standards will respond to this PAN in line with the good practice outlined.
The PAN has been prepared for the Scottish Executive by WSP, EDAW and Phil Jones Associates. It is jointly published by the Scottish Executive's Planning and Transport Divisions. The Scottish Executive hopes to work in partnership with all those involved in road standards to promote good contemporary practice.
Further related research
The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 provides for developers to seek Road Construction Consent ( RCC) before building new roads. Once RCC is granted, the developer has a right to have the road adopted by the local authority. The criteria and standards for gaining RCC are prepared on a professional basis by individual councils.
Successful streetswill, by their nature, allow for human interaction as well as the movement of traffic
The Scottish Executive has commissioned research to investigate how the process and procedures of handling Road Construction Consent can be improved. This research is available on the Scottish Executive website ( www.scotland.gov.uk/planning).