Iden Road, Coventry
Introducing the street
Iden Road is in Hillfields, Coventry and consists of 38 properties all of which are owned by a housing association. The street has a wide mouthed junction at its entrance which means the speed of turning traffic was a concern.
There were large areas of communal parking but these were largely under-used. Instead, vehicles parked on the pavements blocking pedestrians and leaving several large car parks empty.
%20(Small).jpg "Iden Road") |
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| Before | After |
Facts and background:
- Capital (build and materials) cost - £60,000 (including £15,000 on art) a further £1,500 was raised for two art workshops to create the murals
- Type - Cul-de-sac
- No. of dwellings - 38 properties
- Length of street - 146 Metres
- Project partnership between - Sustrans, Coventry City Council, Midland Heart Housing Association and the residents of Iden Road.
- Funded by - Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Coventry City Council and Midland Heart
Timeline:
Project kick off: March 2008
Design process:May 2008 - November 2008
Construction: October 2009 - November 2009
Project end date: March 2010
Streets traffic issues:
- Difficulty making right turns at the junction with Harnell Lane East
- Speed at which cars turn into the street, and use of the junction as a "U" turn
- Traffic speed on Iden Road (existing "speed bumps" ineffectual)
- Pavement parking
- Run-down character of communal areas
- Lack of greenery
Solutions found:
- The entrance to the road was narrowed with build-outs on either side to deter drivers from using it as a turning circle; each build-out has a tree planted in it and presents a welcoming entrance to all guests and residents.
- There is an art mural along a wall by one of the car parks which serves to brighten it up and ties in with the two bee inspired sculptures placed across the street as a further eye catching feature.
- Planters have been placed in a couple of the car parks to break up the expanse of grey tarmac and one provides a community herb garden for the residents.
- A few areas along the street have also been planted up which before were unattractive bare spaces.