Developing a Design Framework
We’ve put together a plan for how we’ll address many of the comments, ideas and suggestions you’ve shared with us during the first stage of the project. We’re calling this plan the Design Framework.
The Design Framework is a guideline for the design team to ensure that the design ideas for the street are working together to address current issues as a whole. The Design Framework focuses on what the re-design of the street needs to achieve to be in line with the changes the community would like to see, the project’s overall aims and objectives, and Sustrans’ mission and values.
5 Design Objectives will sit in the Design Framework to guide us as we work.
Objective 1 - Accessibility
Create a more accessible Main Street which enables everyone to move around with ease, independence, and confidence, and which prioritise people with additional access needs.
• By providing less obstructed, wider, smoother, more level pavements which are easy to maintain, minimising physical barriers to movement.
• By improving crossing opportunities with clear priority, dropped kerbs, tactile paving, manoeuvring space and good visibility to see and be seen.
• By improving access to bus stops.
• By providing seating and shelter at appropriate intervals to support those with limited mobility.
• By protecting, signing, and correctly designing appropriate Blue Badge parking and pick up and drop off facilities.
• By making sure the street design is simple, with distinct features and clear information which aid navigation and give people confidence to travel.
Objective 2 - Experience of moving around
Enhance the experience of people walking, wheeling, and cycling on Main Street, and prioritise people over vehicle movements.
• By re-designing Main Street for slower vehicle speeds and recommending the 20mph zone is extended to include Main Street, to improve pedestrian and cycle safety and reduce noise pollution.
• By reviewing pavement widths and improving them to ensure that they are comfortable to navigate.
• By providing more places to cross and a mixture of crossing types, making it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross Main Street where they want to.
• By exploring options to reduce traffic volumes including through limiting the number and type of vehicles which can travel along Main Street at different times, to improve pedestrian and cycle safety, reduce noise pollution, and improve air quality.
• By making people’s experience of waiting for the bus more comfortable and enjoyable, to support and encourage the use of public transport.
• By reducing the dominance and obstructions caused by on-street parking and designing out pavement parking.