Bishopthorpe@Crossroads

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September 27, 2004

Lamp standards and standard lamps

I have been reading some documents published by the City of York Council, particularly its Highway Design Guide.

This is a full statement of the objectives and practice, and deserves to be read in detail (although because of the large size of the document you have to download it a chapter at a time which is a real time waster if you have broadband!!).

Here are a few quotes that seem relevant:

New development should preserve or enhance the architectural or historic character or appearance of Conservation Areas and should respect the character and setting of Listed Buildings and of adjacent Conservation Areas.

New development in village Conservation Areas should generally respect the predominant form of the particular village and a standardised approach to highway design and detailing is unlikely to be appropriate. ... the highway must be designed to reflect the character of the area.

The Authority will give due regard to the advice given in PPG 15 – Planning and the Historic Environment. This document highlights ways in which the highway can be dealt with sensitively, including the following:
· limited car access to particular areas;
· providing traffic calming features which reinforce rather than diminish local character, such as by using traditional materials;
· using traditional surfacing materials, such as paving;
· noting that all trees in Conservation Areas are protected;
· preserving street furniture which is of historic or architectural interest, e.g. pillar boxes, telephone kiosks, and railings;
· taking advantage of permitted flexibility in the size, siting and colour of traffic signs, and avoiding a proliferation of signs and markings where possible
· selecting and positioning street lighting equipment appropriate to the age and character of the surrounding area.

Most residents are pedestrians for some of their journeys. They therefore require the opportunity to use safe, direct, secure and visually attractive routes to destinations such as local bus stops, shops, schools, parks and other community facilities, as well as the surrounding countryside.

Although the Guide is aimed at new build developers, it provides a very useful template for the Crossroads project. It is complemented by a Technical highway design drawings and specification, available for download here.

Posted by martin at September 27, 2004 10:10 AM

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