Penn Street, Manchester
Introducing the street
Penn Street is a typical Victorian terraced street in the ward of Moston, northern Manchester.
The street sits parallel to the busy shopping street Moston lane. There was resident concern about traffic using the street as a rat run and high levels of parking from shoppers to avoid parking charges along Moston Lane. When there were road works on Moston lane the amount of traffic increased significantly - as many as 10,000 vehicles per day! Residents wanted the DIY streets project to address these concerns and help them reclaim their street.
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Facts and background:
- Capital (build and materials) cost - £22,000
- Type - Victorian red brick terraced housing with alleyways
- No. of dwellings - 43
- Length of street - 178 Metres
- Project partnership between - Sustrans, Manchester City Council and the residents of Penn Street.
- Funded by - Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Manchester City Council
Timeline:
Project kick off: July 2007
Design process: September 2007 - October 2008
Construction: November 2009 - February 2010
Project end date: March 2010
Street issues:
- Speeding traffic
- Problem commuter parking
- Volume of traffic using street to avoid main road
- Lack of street trees and other greenery
Solutions found:
- Planters have been placed directly on to the street (without any raised build-outs or kerb lines) to create a natural chicane to slow down traffic and add greenery; additionally it is hoped to reduce the volume of traffic once the changes are known.
- A tree was planted to provide shade and greenery to the street.
- Wooden Totem poles act as gateway feature at either end of the road which narrows the carriageway discouraging vehicle speed. Residents were led in a design workshop to produce the poles by wood craftsmen, ‘Touchwood' The residents spent several days carving designs by hand into the wood. They now clearly mark a cared for space which belongs to the residents who live there.
- An informal pedestrian crossing has been created by securing coloured strips in the middle of the street as an informal pedestrian crossing to encourage drivers to slow down and drive with care.