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Home Zones Guidance Consultation
Step 6 Further community consultation
6.19 Having defined an outline proposal for the scheme, it will be necessary
to work further with the community to:
- check that the proposals are an accurate reflection of community views;
- invite community members to comment on the proposals, and/or make additional
or alternative suggestions; and
- discuss the development of more detailed proposals for the scheme.
6.20 At this stage more practical participative planning processes may prove
to be useful. Use of maps and models will help communities to focus on the spatial
aspects of the project. Photos and sketches of other Home Zones may be useful
in showing the range of measures and solutions that may be appropriate.
Design proposals for the Chaucer Road Home Zone in Peterborough.
6.21 It may also be beneficial at this stage to undertake further outreach
work to ensure that key groups are included in the process. These may include:
- disabled people groups;
- mothers and toddlers groups;
- older people groups;
- local cyclists;
- local social welfare groups;
- youth groups;
- schools;
- local businesses;
- local residents and property owners.
6.22 Emergency services and utility providers should also be consulted to
ensure that their operational requirements are reflected in the detailed design.
Other consultees will include the relevant Passenger Transport Authority, the
Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association.
6.23 The designer with responsibility for the subsequent stage of the work
should be involved in the consultation process to ensure that lines of communication
are kept open, and local ideas, concerns and aspirations feed directly into
the scheme design.
6.24 This is likely to contribute to the detailed consultation required
under the terms of the Home Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (see Section 3).
The local authority must report on the findings of this consultation.
Step 7 Detailed design
6.25 A more detailed design should now be prepared. The design team is likely
to involve planners, architects, urban designers, artists, landscape architects,
roads engineers, lighting engineers, etc.
6.26 The detailed design should include the following components:
- gateways marking entrances and exits to the Home Zone;
- traffic calming measures within the scheme;
- extent of shared space and its treatment;
- on-street parking provision;
- location and nature of planting;
- location and nature of any formal play facilities;
- street lighting arrangements; and
- key pedestrian and cycle routes and links.
6.27 The detailed design should take the following into account:
- results of swept path analysis to ensure occasional access by emergency
services, removal vehicles, etc.;
- more regular access requirements for refuse vehicles, etc.;
- implications for older people, disabled people or visually impaired people;
and
- maintenance requirements and ability to fit within existing maintenance
regimes.
Step 8 Community feedback
6.28 Once more detailed designs have been prepared, the scheme proposals
should be taken back to the wider community. The aim should be to gather local
views on the detailed design and layout of the proposed scheme and to explore
ways in which the local community can be involved in its implementation. Again,
it will be important to communicate the proposals
in an open and accessible way. Some schemes have included full-sized mock-ups
of what the street will look like, others have made good use of scale models.
6.29 This is likely to be the point at which the local authority should
publish proposals for the Home Zone under the terms of the Home Zones (Scotland)
(No 2) Regulations 2002 (see Section 3).
Step 9 Adjustments and finalisation of the plans
6.30 The final stage in the planning process should involve taking on board
any issues or problems defined in Step 8, and revising plans and proposals accordingly.
This will play a key role in ensuring that the scheme has the support of partner
agencies, as well as confirming a sense of shared community 'ownership' of the
process.
6.31 Under the terms of the Home Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (see
Section 3) it will be necessary to hold a Hearing to consider any objections
that cannot be resolved by negotiation. The local authority must consider these
objections and justify any issues that are not acted on. If there has been a
Hearing, the local authority will need to take the Reporter's recommendations
into account. Once the scheme has been finalised, the local authority is required
to publish its designation of the Home Zone.
Step 10 Implementation
6.32 Implementation is likely to be a key stage for the local community
since it will involve considerable disruption and may be the point at which
the full effects of the scheme become tangible. The process can be eased by:
- careful selection of contractors. The tendering process should take account
of contractors' history of working with local communities. It should also
assess the available resources for the work since delays will exacerbate problems
for local people;
- nominating a project officer within the lead organisation to act as a key
point of contact for local people and the contractors; and
- providing good information before and during implementation to ensure that
local people know what is happening and when.
Step 11 Monitoring
6.33 The final step in the process is monitoring and evaluation. Baseline
data should have been recorded during the earlier community consultation and
design research. This can be used for comparing the area before and after the
scheme was implemented. The range of data which could be used to establish the
extent to which the Home Zone has 'made a difference' is outlined in the final
chapter of the guidance.
6.34 Monitoring should include reporting on the Home Zone designation as
required by Home Zones (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2002 (see Section 3).
Community led 'retrofit' schemes
6.35 The potential to create a Home Zone may come from within the local
community as a response to rising traffic levels, a lack of play space for children
or a specific event such as a road accident. Such schemes require the involvement
and support of the local authority and other agencies. The nature of the interface
between these organisations and the local community will be critical in the
process of developing and implementing the scheme proposals. Again, it is important
that the local authority acts as facilitator to the community initiative. It
should provide key technical, design and procedural inputs whilst ensuring that
ownership of the scheme continues to rest with the local community.
Step1 Having an idea
6.36 In most cases the idea of establishing a Home Zone will emerge in response
to the identification of specific local problems and opportunities. Home Zones
can address a wide range of community issues, including improving local open
spaces, overcoming road and traffic problems, focusing on community safety or
making better provision for play. Until Home Zones become a more widely recognised
concept, it is likely that community groups will be more aware of the problems
than they are of the potential role of the Home Zones. Local authorities and
other community-based organisations can play a key role in raising awareness
of the Home Zone concept and supporting communities in exploring its application
to their area.
Step 2 Put together a case
6.37 Local communities should be able to assemble an accurate picture of
what it is like to live in an area, as well as key problems and opportunities
which the scheme could potentially address. It will be useful if local groups
seek to gather evidence on these issues, which can be used later in the process
as part of presenting a case for securing funding assistance and other sources
of support. A questionnaire survey of local residents, an inventory of environmental
resources (photographed, recorded or even videoed) reports on discussions with
specific groups within the community, etc. could all be useful ways of gathering
evidence which can be used later in the process.
Step 3 Wider consultation
6.38 Interest in establishing a Home Zone may reflect a variety of local
issues. It is also likely that such an idea will be generated by a small group
or even a single representative. It is therefore important that the wider community
is involved early in the process. This will identify any areas of disagreement
and should help build ownership of the project.
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Home Zones objectives
Each Home Zone has been developed as a result of a specific set of circumstances
and motivations. For example:
- in the Five Roads scheme in the London Borough of Ealing, local
people were concerned about rat-running, HGV traffic, lack of parking
space, personal safety and an unattractive street environment;
- in the Tillydrone scheme, local people and the Council wished
to address problems of antisocial speeding, and safety and vandalism
whilst linking the scheme with a programme of housing improvement;
- in Henbury, problems included high traffic speeds, parking
problems and a lack of playspaces for younger children; and
- in Magor, the scheme developed as a result of initial concerns
about the safety of children walking to school.
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6.39 Each community will have its own way of achieving this. It is important
that people are consulted on the scheme alongside provision of information about
Home Zones, so that the community can make an informed decision on whether or
not to progress the idea. A public meeting or workshop may be the most effective
way of spreading information and inviting general views on the issues. However,
it is also important that members of the community who may feel less comfortable
about expressing their views in public are also encouraged to participate through
alternative participative techniques.
Methods might include:
- surveying local schools or youth groups to ensure that young people are
included in the process;
- holding informal 'listening sessions' over the course of a day or an afternoon,
in a public place where people are asked to drop in and provide their views.
Suitable venues could be wide ranging, possibly including local shops, libraries
and cafes;
- identifying groups with special needs, and consulting them directly to establish
the match between the scheme and their needs _ e.g. local disability groups,
social inclusion partnerships, housing providers, etc.;
- making use of local media and promotional material (e.g. posters, leaflets
and fliers) to raise awareness of the project and to invite views.
6.40 Some communities have made effective use of fun days and other special
events to raise awareness of opportunities to create a Home Zone. They can also
be effective ways of helping people to think about their local area in a different
way.
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Funding
A number of English Home Zones have been funded through local transport
plan resources. Funding has also been sought from local businesses, Single
Regeneration Budget, Housing Associations, Housing Corporation and the
local authorities. Funding was also obtained through planning agreements.
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Step 4 Approach partners
6.41 Whilst the community is likely to have sufficient enthusiasm to generate
the idea of establishing a Home Zone, it is likely that the scheme will require
the support of the local authority and other local organisations and agencies.
6.42 Having established their own initial views and priorities, local communities
who have an interest in taking proposals for a Home Zone forward should approach
these potential partners with a view to securing their support in the process.
This does not mean that local people hand responsibility for the project over
to the local authority at this stage. Ownership of the project should continue
to rest with the community. The local authority will, however, provide key inputs
in terms of technical, design and procedural inputs. Professionals face the
challenge of working creatively and in partnership with the local community.
A 'planning for real' exercise helps local
people think about the future of their area.
6.43 The process could be aided by the establishment of a steering group
with community, local authority and other agency representatives. This will
help to ensure that the community and professionals recognise and fully understand
the nature of their involvement in the process.
6.44 At this stage, communities should also consider how the implementation
of the scheme will be funded. The local authorities are likely to play a key
role in providing support for implementing the scheme, but communities may also
be able to approach other agencies. This will depend on the extent to which
the scheme relates to other policy or funding agendas. The need for baseline
monitoring should also be considered at this stage, both as a way of informing
the design process and evaluating the scheme's success once it has been implemented.
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Using special events
Special events have proved a useful tool in raising awareness and enthusiasm
for proposed Home Zones. Experience suggests that this can be a particularly
effective way of getting communities together to think about the scheme,
and for helping local people to visualise the planned end results. Examples
include:
- A street party and fun day at Cavell Way, where the local artist
encouraged children to paint their own road signs, and local people
built their own traffic calming and street furniture with straw bales.
- At the Northmoor Home Zone, a fun day was held. The street
was levelled using tarmac and painted (using emulsion for a temporary
effect), to help give people an idea of the likely 'feel' of the street.
The fire brigade brought along an appliance to demonstrate that the
road alterations would not form a barrier to access for the emergency
services.
- At the Methleys Home Zone in Leeds, residents attracted local
and national attention by temporarily covering one of the main streets
in turf for a day in 1996.
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Step 5 Outline proposal
6.45 Having established the case for the Home Zone, and gained the commitment
of relevant partners, the next stage in the process will involve translating
ideas into an outline proposal. This process may be supported by the local authority
or it may involve the use of external architects or designers. Such support
and technical advice will help to ensure that any community proposals are realistic
and achievable.
6.46 A sketch plan should be developed at this stage setting out:
- the main concepts underlying the scheme;
- the current, or 'baseline' characteristics of the area, including any key
problem areas or pressure points;
- the broad components of the scheme including the extent to which it may
seek to change existing traffic flows, parking patterns, etc. or create new
public space or play facilities; and
- include any major changes to the area (e.g. new parking areas, road closures,
new development).
6.47 The plan should be accompanied by a written summary which clearly defines:
- the aims of the scheme;
- the likely key components;
- partner roles;
- community views;
- likely sources of support for the project;
- indicative timescale for implementation; and
- key steps remaining in the process of planning, design and implementation.
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Achieving informed participation
Cavell Way Home Zone took seven local people to the Netherlands to see
established Home Zones. They adapted the itinerary from a previous similar
trip by Transport 2000 to suit the Cavell Way objectives. Pictures taken
on the Netherlands trip were displayed at the community workshop to illustrate
the principles of Home Zones to the rest of the community.
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6.48 The community should work in partnership with the local authority or
external designers to prepare outline proposals. It is important that all partners
'sign up' to the plans at this stage, ahead of the preparation of more detailed
designs for the area.
6.49 This is likely to be the point at which the local authority should
publish notification of its intention to designate a Home Zone under the terms
of the Home Zones (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2002 (see Section 3).
Step 6 Further community consultation
6.50 Having defined an outline proposal for the scheme, it will be necessary
to work further with the wider community to:
- check that the proposals are an accurate reflection of community views;
- invite local people to comment on the proposals, and/or make additional
or alternative suggestions; and
- discuss the development of more detailed proposals for the scheme.
6.51 At this stage more practical participative planning processes may prove
to be useful. Use of maps and models will help communities to focus on the spatial
aspects of the project. Photos and sketches of other Home Zones may be useful
in showing the range of measures and solutions that may be appropriate.
6.52 It may also be beneficial at this stage to undertake further outreach
work to ensure that key groups are included in the process. These may include:
- disabled people groups;
- mothers and toddlers groups;
- older people groups;
- local cyclists;
- local social welfare groups;
- youth groups;
- schools; and
- local businesses.
6.53 Emergency services and utility providers should also be consulted to
ensure that their operational requirements are reflected in the detailed design.
Other consultees will include the relevant Passenger Transport Authority, the
Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association.
6.54 Whether located within the local authority or externally, the designer
with responsibility for the subsequent stage of the work should be involved
in this process. This will help ensure that local ideas, concerns and aspirations
feed directly into the scheme design.
6.55 This is likely to contribute to the detailed consultation required
under the terms of the Home Zones (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2002 (see Section
3). The local authority must report on the findings of this consultation.
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