Liveable Neighbourhoods
Sustrans Liveable Neighbourhoods implements practical projects which combine urban design, community involvement and sustainable transport planning. Our aim is to work with local residents and other partners to create high quality urban environments which promote sustainable travel behaviour whilst being safe and pleasant to live in and visit.
A high quality public realm that offers enjoyable, safe walking and cycling routes is fundamental to encouraging more people to travel sustainably. When complemented by well-located amenities such as local shops, schools, and green open space, we are providing the foundation for a liveable neighbourhood.
DIY Streets, a new project being piloted by the Liveable Neighbourhoods team at Sustrans and funded through the Esmée Fairbairn foundation was launched in April 2007. The project aims to demonstrate an innovative approach to creating affordable home zone type areas. We are working with local communities to develop low-cost capital works that make their streets safer and more attractive, aiming to find simple interventions and materials which can be both effective and durable.
DIY Streets is being piloted with eleven communities, with the intention that it will then become replicable on a national scale, delivering the benefits of people friendly streets at a fraction of the typical cost of a home zone.
Streets for Living is an initiative which transformed four streets in the centre of Swindon. Using home zone techniques, the design incorporates new street lighting, parking and children's play areas, hard soft landscaping, bicycle storage and seating areas.
Research on retail vitality conducted by Sustrans has found that pedestrians are positive news for local trade. ‘Shoppers and how they travel', the first study of its kind to look at neighbourhood shopping areas, highlights the importance of catering for pedestrians and bus passengers at local shops as these customers are better for business. And, with almost half of the customers living within one mile of the shops, could this mean that out of town shopping centres are not the retail heaven they appear to be?