Cambridgeshire Design Guide for Streets and Public Realm

The Cambridgeshire Design Guide offers local authorities and developers a clear and consistent approach to good design of streets and public spaces in new housing developments. The guide focuses particularly on place making - the creation of the places in which we live and work. We all wish to live in places that are safe, attractive and sustainable. While buildings are an important part of this, the streets and public areas that surround them are equally important.

This guide helped to create these high quality streets and public realms by offering guidance on issues of accessibility, social inclusion, public safety, integrated transport, sustainability, construction and long-term maintenance.

What are the guiding principles?

• Sustainability - Places that we design today should be environmentally sustainable and encourage more walking, cycling and the use of public transport.
• Character - Design of new places should reflect the unique character of surrounding settlements and landscapes.
• Future Care and maintenance - Careful thought must be given to the future care and stewardship of public spaces to ensure that the quality of design is maintained.
• Safety - The safety of streets and public spaces is important and designers should strive to assess and manage risks.
• Flexibility for the Future - New places should be adaptable to change and modification to meet future needs.

Who is the guide for?

The guide is aimed at the wide range of people involved in developing new communities.  Primarily, this includes developers, their consultants and development control officers in local planning and highways authorities. However, an integrated approach to designing new places means that the guide should also be referred to by practitioners in the areas of housing, draining, waste recycling, etc.

What is its status?

The Design Guide was produced by Alan Baxter and Associates in consultation with Cambridgeshire Horizons and representatives from the local authorities in Cambridgeshire. It is intended to compliment other guidance available to local authorities and wider advice available on specific design issues.

View the Cambridgeshire Design Guide for streets and public realm here.