Environmental development : quality in town and country [consultation document]

28 Pages·1994·8.8 MB·English

by  Great Britain. Department of the Environment

Contents
Introduction byJohn Glimmer
Town andCountry
Townsas Villages
Vitaland Viable Town Centres
OurLocalEnvironment
Heritage
BetterQualityBuilding
Trafficand Travel
Housing
QualityandInvestment
TakingDecisions in theRound
Whatnext?
Responseform
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Preface
Aswesecureeconomicgrowthanddevelopmentweexpectto
enjoyourgreaterwealththroughanimprovedqualityoflife.
Thatmeansimprovingoursurroundings;conservingand
enhancingtheenvironmentoftownandcountry. Soaswe
emergefromrecessionitisrightforustotakeafreshlookat
ourvillages,townsandcitiesandconsiderhowwecanbest
safeguardtheirdistinctivecharacterandfutureviability.
Thefirstthingtorecogniseisthattownsandcitiesmust
accommodatemodemneedsiftheyaretosurviveand
succeed. People’sconcernsareconstantlychanging,the
economyisevolving,newtechnologysetsnewdemandseven
asitrelievesusofoldburdens. Weareevolvingnewwaysof
working,ofcommunicatingandoftravelling. Allthisleaves
itsmarkontheurbanfabric.
Englishtownscapesareatestamenttotheenduringcraftofthebuilderandthevision
ofthearchitectandhispatron.However,theyalsoremindusofpastmistakes. Eachnew'building
affectsourfamiliarlandscapeso,whileweneednewdevelopment,weyearnforbuildingswhichwill
raiseoursights,notdashourhopes.
Buildingssetthetone,buttherearemanyothercontributorstotheurbanscene,
includingairquality,noise,roaddesignandtrafficmanagement,openspaces,streetsignsandlighting,
treesandwalls. Intacklingeachofthese,qualityandco-ordinationmustbeourconstantconcern.
Qualityaffectsusall Architectureistheonlyartformwhichisinescapable.
Mostofourdaysarespentinoraroundbuildingswhichthereforehaveagreatinfluenceonourlives
andrequirecarefulthought.
Goodurbandesigncanreinforceasenseofcommunity,whereasanonymousgrey
andalienatingsurroundingsisolatetheindividual. Adepressingenvironmentdestroyslocalpride,
attractscrime,detersinvestmentandleavespeoplefeelingpowerless. Yetqualityattractsquality,good
designattractslifeandinvestmentandastrongcommunitystandsoutagainstcrime.
Weneedtopaymoreattentiontourbandetail;whetherinstreetsignsandfurniture,
inthestandardoflocalservices,orinthethoughtfulnessofdesignofthepublicspacebetween
buildings. Allthesecon[routetoourexperienceofthewholebuiltenvironment,soifweimproveour
buildingsandthestreetsandspaceswhichtheydefine,wesurelyimprovethequalityofall
ourlives.
Qualityissustainable Sustainabledevelopmentisabouthowwedevelopinthis
generationwithoutstealingfromthenext. Itisabouthoww'eusethewealthwhichgrowthprovidesto
buildabetterworld-builttolast.
Sustainabledevelopmentmeansawaronwaste-wastedland,wastedenergy,wasted
traveltime. Wemustcontinuetotargetderelictandunderusedlandinoururbanareas,bothto
regeneratetheeconomylocallyandtorelievethepressureforgreenfielddevelopmentinthewider
countryside. Theconservationofenergyinbuildings,andoffuelincars,savesmoneywhilebenefiting
theenvironment. Bycontrast,thedisparatezoningofdifferenteverydayactivities-working,living,
shopping-increasesdemandfortravelandreducesthespeedoftravelasroadsbecomecongested. Our
uitr.bWaenanreeeadsctoanfniontdawacycsommmotdhaetleonugnelrimtietremdogfrcoowntthaiinnirnogaodutrradnesppeorntd.enNcoerocnatnhoeumroetnovricraornmaenndttolerate
managingitsimpactonurbanlife.
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Ourtownsandcitiesareincompetition. Theyviewitheachotherforinvestmentand
tiade;andallviewiththeruralidylltowhichsomanyaspire. Moreandmore,peoplecanreally
choosewheretheywishtolive,andtheyincreasinglyseekaqualityenvironmentforthemselvesand
theirfamilies. Suchanenvironmentmustbeprovidedmoururbanareasiftheyaretocontinueto
thrive.
Applyingtheprincipleofsustainabledevelopmentmeansunderstandingtheimpact
ofouractionsuponothers. Italsomeansfacinguptotheeffectofallourindividualactionstaken
together. Itmeansplacingcivicresponsibility-ourdutytoothers,andtothefuture-atthecentreof
ourlives. Itwillneedconsiderablevisiontomeetrisingexpectationsandthedemandsoftheurban
economy,yetstillsafeguardourarchitecturalheritage.
Qualitypays Goodqualityisgoodeconomics. Thebuildingwhichgleamsinthe
sun.ofitsfirstsummer,butisdecayedandstainedbeforeitsfifth,isachallengetothejudgementofits
owneranddesigner. Thewiseinvestorconsidersthecostsofmaintenance,theavailabilityof
replacementmaterials,adaptabilityandlongevity.
Responsibility Thequalityofoursurroundingsdependsnotonlyongovernment
anddevelopers,butuponcompaniesasownersandtenants,theprofessions,localauthorities,and
inci!viduals.Theresponsibilityforwhatisbuilt,andwhere,isshared,asaretherewardswhichgood
qualitybestows.
Thisdocumentchallengesindividualsinallthesefieldstoconsiderwhattheycando
todeliverquality.Howcanthewealththateconomicgrowthgeneratesbeharnessedtodeliverabetter
qualitybuiltenvironmentforourchildren?Howcanwesafeguardlocalidentitywithout
sentimentalisingthepast? Howcanweeachhelptokeepourtownsandcitiesplaceswherepeople
reallywanttobe-placesofvitalityandculture,placesforlivingaswellasworking.
InthispaperweareconcernedwiththequalityofEngland’sentirebuilt
environment. Muchofwhatwesayappliestoallbuildings,includingthoseinthewidercountryside.
Ourmainfocus,however,centresonurbanareas,asitisherewheremostpeopleliveandwork,where
mostdevelopmenttakesplace,andwherethegreatestopportunitiesforimprovementlie.
Eachchapterin thisdocumentlooks atadifferentaspectoftheseissues -how we
live,howwebuild,howwetravel,howwemakedecisions. Eachchapteroutlinessomeoftheaction
thatGovernment,foritspart, alreadyhasinhand. Weshowexamplesofgoodpracticeand, most
importantofall,weinvitefurtherdiscussionanddebate.
Wehaveagreattask-creatingtheenvironmentinwhichourchildrenwillgrow.
Noneofuscanproperlyoptoutofthatendeavour.
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Town and
Country
T
henumberofhouseholdsisstillgrowingandthe
wayweliveischanging. Thereis a muchgreater
varietyoflifestylesthan havebeen accommodatedin the
past. Youngpeopleleavetheirfamiliesandsetuphome
earlier; while theoldhaveanindependentlifeforlonger
thanbefore. Atthesametime, employmentpatterns have
changed. Asprimary industriesdeclineandmanualjobs
arefewer, soserviceandnewtechnology industries Farleft:PetticoatLane
representthewaysmanyofusnowmakeourliving. market,London. A
Shoppingand leisureactivitiestoo havefundamentally thrivingtraditional
altered inrecentyears. market.
Centre:Cycleway,well
integratedintothe
streetscapeof
Islington,London.
Left:Skspton,North
Yorkshire.Anironand
glassvaultedroofcreates
anarcadedshopping
street.
Insuch achangingworld, thewayweuse
buildingshasnaturallychangedtoo. Derelictionand
decayhasfollowedtherundownofheavyindustries. TheGovernmentisseekingtoencourage
Newdevelopmentshavespreadoutinto thecountryside to sustainableurbangrowthboththroughitsplanningguidance
accommodatechangingfamilypatterns. tolocalauthoritiesandthroughthespendingprogrammesand
Wecannotavoidconstantevolution, but advisoryactionsofitsagenciesandDepartmentsofState.
itissustainablechangewhichweseek. Sustainable concerninghousingP,lashnonpipnigngpoalnidcytrganusipdoratncmaett-eprasrt(iPcuPlGasrl3y,t6ha&t
developmentsmakeitpossibleforpeopleto livecloseto 13)-emphasisesthevalueofmixeddevelopmentsimaginatively
theirworkandwithincommunities thatcanprovidefor integratedintotheexistingfabric. Thedesirabilityofproviding
theirneedslocally. In builtup areasitmeansmaking choiceintransportshouldinformstrategicplanningdecisions
betteruseofthefiniteresource thatourlandrepresents. fromtheoutsetandthevitalityandviabilityoftowncentres
Weshouldaim togive thesameorbetteraccess to shouldbesafeguarded.
facilities, whileusinglessfuelinmotorvehicles. Weneed Ultimately,bothvitalityandviability
toencouragemoreviableeconomiccentresandreducethe dependoncustom. Townsandcitiesmustattractpeoplein;
thatcanonlybedoneiftheyofferthequalityofenvironment,and
demandforpublicexpenditureon regeneration. In this theculturalandcommercialservices,whichpeopleneedand
waywemayreducethepressureforsuburbansprawl. want. Wherepossible,communitiesneedtobelargeenoughto
Developmentin thecountrysidewillstillbeneeded, but offertheservicesneeded,andthebestprinciplesofurban
thiscanbeaccommodatedinwayswhichsustaindistinct designneedtobeexploredandadoptedbydevelopersand
ruralcommunities. plannersalike.
Governmentagenciesencouragethe
developmentofderelictandcontaminatedlandwithgrant
aidwherethereisamarketbarriertotheeffectivere-useofthat
land.
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Discussionissues
Whatdemandsdoes
I.I
theprincipleof
sustainabledevelopment
makeupontheplanning
ofourtownsandcities.
1,2Inwhatwayscan
townsandcitiesdevelop
tomakeiteasierfor
peopletouseresources
moreresponsibly?
1.3Howcanweinvolve
TheGovernment’snewarrangementsfordirect Above:ViewofOxford localcommunities
grantaidintheregionsthroughtheSingleRegeneration fromBoar’sHill.Thiscity effectivelyinthebroad
Budgetbuildonthehighlysuccessfulpartnershipapproach settinganditssurrounding designdecisionswhich
whichCityChallengefostered. AsaresultGovernmentsupport countrysideshowsthe determinetheoutline
willinfuturebeabletorespondmuchmoredirectlytoreallocal advantageofdefining developmentofanarea,
needsandpriorities. properlywherethetown withoutslowingthe
CentralGovernmentsupportforlocal endsandthecountryside planningprocess?
authorities’expenditureisitselfdistributedaccordingtotheir begins.
spendingneedsmeasuredbytheStandardSpendingAssessment
system,whichhasbeenrevisedthisyeartorecogniseawider
rangeofeconomicandsocialfactors.
TheDepartmentoftheEnvironmentsponsors
researchintoappropriatelevelsofurbandensity,strategic
planningandsustainabilityandintothe“ecologicalcity”,inwhich
economic,socialandenvironmentalbenefitsmaybeintegrated
moreeffectively. Similarly,theEngineeringandPhysical
SciencesResearchCouncil(EPSRC)andEconomicandSocial
ResearchCouncil(ESRC)backresearchon“citiesand
sustainability”tolookathowacitybehavesasawholeandhow
demandforscarceresourcescanbereduced. TheEPSRCalso
supportsresearchtoimprovetheenergyefficiencyofbuildings
andtrafficflowsonexistingroads.
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Towns
as
Villages
Some townshaveasinglecentrewith acompact
surroundingarea. Yetitisremarkablehowin even
thesmallesttownsthereareareaswhich areclearly
distinct, oftenwith theirownfocalpointsoropenspaces
which help tocreatea village “feel”. Thesevillagesmay
betheresultofoncediscretesettlementswhich have been
envelopedas a townhasgrown orofhousesandservices
,
providedbyasingleemployer. Therealityofthese
separatecommunitiesisoftenrecognisedbythedistinct
civicgroupsandamenitysocietieswhichgrowup to Theopportunitiesformixed-use
safeguardandimprovetheirdistinctivenessandseparate communitydevelopmentswillbevaried. Largeareas,such
identity. asdisusedindustrialsites,mayprovidethechanceformajor
Sometimes thesevillageshavebeen integratedschemes,whileacarefullyorchestratedamalgamation
consciouslypromoted, andtherearemanywho believe ofsmallersitesmayhelprevitaliseanexistingcommunity. Justas
thatthissuggestsamoregeneralmechanismforimproving existingvillagesandcommunitiesareuniqueintheirgrowthand
thequalityofurban life. Therecan beno universal characteristics,soeachdevelopmentwillneedtobpunique
accordingtolocalcircumstances. TheDepartmentofthe
blueprint, butcertainlyitisrighttoseekto buildon these EnvironmentiscontributingtothefundingoftheUrbanVillages
experiencesofcommunity toensurethaturbanstructures Forumwhichpromotesthisconceptinnewdevelopment.
aresufficientlysmallandcoherenttogiveresidentspride Localauthoritieswhichwishtoaccommodatesuchschemes
andasenseofplace.
Above:ColdharbourFarm,Aylesbury.Aplannedinfill
projectconceivedasaseriesofvillageswithdistinctcentres
whileformingadearedgetoAylesbury.
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Discussionissues
2.1 Aretherewaysof
transferringthe
experienceofthose
urbancommunities
whichhavegrown
naturallyintothe
developmentofnew
urbanvillages?
2.2 Howwidely
applicablearesuch
schemes,andinwhat
circumstancesdothey
providearealalternative
withinthestrategyfortheirareacanalreadyincludeproposalsfor Above:CoventGarden, totheformsofurban
individualsiteswithintheirLocalDevelopmentPlan. Theseneed London.Afocalpointfor andsuburban
tobeconsideredontheirmerits,andalthoughdevelopmentbriefs marketandleisure developmentwhichhave
canpredicateamixofuses,inallsuchcasesitwillbeessential activitiessincethe17th beenmoretypicalin
forlocalauthoritiestoconsultwiththeprivatesectortoensure century.Thesquarewas recentyears?
thatanyproposalsdrawnuparepracticable. designedbyinigoJones.
Left:ShepherdMarket,
London.Athrivingvillage
inMayfairwithintheheart
ofLondon.
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^
. 1 .
Vital and Viable
Town
Centres
1 citywithoutahearthasno hopeoflife. Itis the
jLJLvibrantcentrewhich attractspeopletoshopandto
do business topursueleisureactivitiesorjustto meetand
,
pass thetime ofday. From thesmall town tothegreat
metropolis, urbanqualityrelates to thestateofthecentre.
Ofcourse, itwouldbepossibleto describe
town centresintermsofjunctionalone. Singlejourneys
canserveseveralpurposes:peoplemeetandmixactivities
onasinglevisitthusreducingdependenceonthemotor
car. Thecountrysideisprotectedfrom urbansprawlifthe
citycentreisfulloflife. Buildingscan beusedmore
1 I1Is ;^ FSqauralreeft,:YSotr.kH.elen’s
p
* i Centre: Accessibilityto
I f towncentreshopping
I,S“piJr111 :! 1rJ11 Jfjf-j . 1 fLoefrta:ll.MarketSquare,
Chesterfield,Derbyshire.
'i
profitably: thehistoriccansurviveandthebestofthenew
can beafforded. Ifpeoplelivenearwheretheyworkin
town, infatsorhouses, orovershops, thencrimeand Successfultowncentresarethosewhich
vandalismareeasiertocombat. meettheneedsofpeopleinthearea.Thiswilldependonthe
alertnessofthebusinesseswhichoperatethere,onthequalityof
Yetto reducethelifeofthecitycentre to serviceswhichthelocalauthorityprovidesandonthe
merecomponentpartsis tomisstherealpoint. We responsibilityofpropertyownersanddevelopers. Allhavea
instinctively recognisethatitisinthewholethatthecity stakeinachievingandmaintainingsuccess.
livesanditisinthereaction andinteractionofthese TheGovernment’splanningguidance
elements thatwefindtheeverchangingattractionand explainstheimportanceofnurturingthetowncentreeconomyand
appealofurban life. requiresthattheimpactofoutoftowndevelopmentsbecarefully
Todaytherearerealchallengesto our scrutinised. Theaimistoretainvitalandviabletowncentres.
urbancentres. Thedeclineofoldindustriesandthe Hnuorwteurveedr.viAtalliotcyalcaanuntohotrbiteypwrielslernvoetds:aiftemguusartdbveiacboinlsittaynmtelyrelyby
housingwhichtheysupported, theneedforurban opposingthewrongsortofproposalinthewrongplace:itmust
renewal, thecreationofothercentresofattraction on the positivelycourttherightsortofnewdevelopmentintheright
edgeoftownsandfarbeyondandthechokingeffectof place.Towncentremanagementcannotbeapassive
evergrowingcongestionallchallengethevitalityofour operationiftownsandcitiesaretoretaintheircompetitiveedge.
towncentres. So weneedtohelp them to recover, notjust Adetailedsurveyandguidetogood
byhaltingthedeclinebutbyencouragingnewlife practicehasrecentlybeenpublishedbytheDepartmentofthe
Environmenttohelpallthosewhoshapethefutureofoururban
centres. Itputsforwardkeyindicatorsforcheckingvitalityand
viability,andwaystoassessatowncentreindepth. Thereport
alsosuggestshowtodevelopastrategyappropriatetolocal
circumstances.
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Discussionissues
3.1 Howfarisitproper
tousetheplanning
systemtopromote
urbanrenewal?
3.2 Howcancommerce
andlocal authoritiesbest
contributetotown
centremanagementand
totheachievementand
retentionofvitaland
viabletowncentres?
3.3 Couldlocal
authoritiesbemore
responsivetoideasfrom
businessabouthowthe
revenuesfromthe
businessrateshouldbe
spent?
3.4 Couldtheconcepts
behindCityPridebe
adaptedto inspirelocal
initiativesIntownsand
citiesthroughoutthe
country?
Above:CastieHal!ShoppingDevelopment,Norwich.
Sensitivelysitedwithinaconservationarea,thecitycentre
developmentestablishespedestrianroutesacrossthecity.
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Our
Local
Environment
T T Thenyoujudgethequalityofanarea, youcannot
V V isolatethearchitecturefrom thetrees,parks and
openspaces whichgiveitscaleandperspective. Grime
anddirt, noiseandairpollution, Utterandgraffitiwill
combine to detractfrom theareaasawhole, howeverfine
thebuildings. Improvementsin thequalityofthebuilt
environmentare thereforegreatestwhereawholeapproach
istaken.
Thereisawiderangeofactioninhandto
improveparticularaspectsofthelocalenvironment,butthemost
importantactionisthattakenatthelocallevelbythegroupsand
individualswholiveinanduseourtownsandcities. Muchalso
dependsontheresponsivenessofthelocalcouncilandthequality
ofitsservices.
TheDepartmentoftheEnvironmentisthe
largestfunderoftheTidyBritainGroupwhichadviseslocal
authoritiesandothersonhowtocontrollittermoreeffectively.
TheGovernmentproposestomakelocalauthorityactionagainst
littereasierandperformancemonitoringclearer.
Encouragementisalsogiventotreeplanting
inurbanareasthroughurbanregenerationgrantsandassistanceto
voluntarygroups.Theplantingoftreesandcarefulmaintenanceof
othergreenspacescanmakeatremendousdifferencetoanarea.
Individualtreesofparticularimportancemaybethesubjectof
localauthoritypreservationorders.
Inanumberofplacesthequalityoftheurban
fringeistargetedbyGroundworkTrusts. Supportedbythe
Governmentandtheprivatesector,Groundworkenlistsmuch
localsupportfortacklingunsightlyderelictionandimprovingthe
localenvironment.
Topleft:Graffitiremoval. InMarchthisyear,theGovernmentpublisheda
Topright:Towncentre discussionpaperonmeasurestoimproveairquality. Good
streetcleaning. progressisalreadybeingmadeinreducingemissionsfromhomes,
Above:Abalanced industryandvehicles. Proposalslaterthisyearwillexaminehow
environmentofoffice thisactioncanbereinforced. Individualmeasuressuchas
buildings,goodtree tacklingsmokyvehiclesareimportant,butitisalsonecessaryto
plantingandapublic targetlocalactiononareaswherethereareparticularproblems. It
square. isenvisagedthatvariousapproacheswillbetestedoutindifferent
places.
TheCommunityForestsInitiativeis
encouragingtheplantingofnew'woodedareasontheedgesofa
numberoftownsandcitiesthroughoutthecountry. Thisgreening
oftheurbanfringewillprovidemanyenvironmental,educational
andrecreationalopportunities,andsomenewemploymentfor
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