The Scottish Government

Context

Local character

• The historical development of a place creates its distinctive character.
• Local character must be recognised and understood in any new street design.

Built form

• Built form can influence traffic calming and promote a sense of place through the careful placement of buildings.

Linking into a surrounding area

• To help integrate new developments with neighbouring areas, street networks should provide reasonably direct routes for movement by foot, cycle and car.
• Links should also be made to public transport routes within the surrounding area.

Identity

Street character types

• Street character types should be developed by considering the space requirements of people and vehicles.

• A combination of street character types can help to create distinctive areas and interesting street scenes.

Street furniture

• Street furniture should be robust and easy to maintain.
• The co-ordination of elements is important to reduce visual clutter.
• Careful placement of furniture should take account of movement patterns and micro climates.
• Opportunities for public/environmental art will enhance place identity.

Materials

• Careful choice of materials can help to create to sense of place.
• There is a preference for simple, distinctive materials which are capable of being easily repaired.
• Agreement must be sought from maintenance bodies over detailed design issues.

Signage

• The design of a layout can influence the need for signage.
• Signage should communicate information clearly and accurately. Clutter and unnecessary markings should be avoided.
• Signage can enhance place identity.

Connection

Well-connected networks

• The design of a well-connected network will include the consideration of character types, and likely vehicular and pedestrian flows along each road link.
• A well connected network should help to disperse traffic.

• Provisions should be made for all modes of travel i.e. walking, cycling, public transport and car.

Movement through, and within, a site

• Layouts should be clear and accessible for both residents and visitors, to allow easy movement within a site.
• Public spaces can be provided at key locations where a number of streets meet.

Traffic speed and road safety

• Home zones can work very well on connected streets and have the potential to form a key element in many residential layouts.
• Low speeds should be achieved, wherever possible, through the overall design of the street environment rather than through overt traffic calming devices. Speeds should be no greater than 20 mph (and 10 mph in home zones).
• There should be minimal use of artificial traffic calming, such as road humps.

Junctions

• Omission of road markings in areas of low traffic flow, subject to road safety audit and monitoring.
• The use of crossroad junctions will result in a legible network where all road users are able to make reasonably direct journeys across an area, especially where traffic is light in low speed environments.
• Corner radii at junctions should be as short as practicable to help pedestrians when crossing.

Parking

• On-street parking in residential streets can help to reduce traffic speeds.
• More informal parking arrangements are to be encouraged, such as the use of subtle widening within a street or by using end-on or angled parking within a square. Use of street trees, planting or street furniture can be used to discourage indiscriminate parking.
• On-plot parking should be designed so that the front garden is not overly dominated by the parking space.
• Care must be taken to ensuring good natural surveillance in any off-street parking areas.
• Vehicular accesses to any off-street parking areas will need to be taken into account within the overall street design.

Bus routes

• Needs of bus users, operators and size of design vehicle must be considered when planning the layout of all new residential areas.
• Patronage and viability are maximised when bus routes are direct, efficient and frequent, with stops that are accessible.
• The role of 'demand responsive' door-to-door services needs to be considered.
• The design of residential streets that are expected to be used by buses will place greater emphasis on ease of traffic movement but target speeds along these streets should still be no more than 20mph.

Designing for utilities and service vehicles

• Need to establish service vehicle requirements.
• Identify routes for buried services within the street design.
• Early consideration of SuDS principles are vital.