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Although relatively new in the UK,
there are an increasing number of references to Home Zones in the DfT documents
that underline the importance of this concept.
The 1998 Government's White Paper on
the future of Transport entitled 'A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone'
- refers to Home Zones as "a valuable
tool in improving places where live and children play".
Lord Rogers and the Urban Task Force
document ‘Towards an Urban Renaissance’, recommends the introduction of Home
Zones "in partnership with local communities, based on a robust legal framework,
using tested street designs, reduced speed and traffic calming measures".
In July 2000 ‘Transport 2010; the
10 Year Transport Plan’ set Home Zones in context with all other strategies
and pointed out the individual and collective benefit in improving transport
choices and making a significant improvement to the environment. In terms of
road safety, Home Zones are seen as an important step towards reducing child
casualties and improving residents’ quality of life and safety.
In the UK there are nine
pilot Home Zone schemes across England and Wales and the Scottish Parliament
will be implementing four pilot schemes in Scotland. The nine existing pilot schemes
in England are:
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Sittingbourne, Kent, Work already completed around a 120-home
development in Cavell Way includes an entry feature to reduce speed and
create driver awareness. The design changes the priority of the junction,
providing a tree planting and seating area with links to an adjacent play
area (photos of Sittingbourne home zone). Further work will include a piazza; |
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Clifton, Nottingham,
The scheme covers a 1970s residential estate based around 19 culs-de-sac.
The plan includes a seating area, alteration to the roads to create parking
bays and tree planting; |
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West Ealing, London, The scheme covers a congested area that suffers
from being used as a "rat-run" in rush hour and difficulties with
parking. The work planned includes a changed road layout to incorporate
60-degree parking, planting, new street lighting, a 20mph zone and community
mosaics; |
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Lambeth, South
London, A Home Zone in Holmewood consists of trial road closures
to three of the four entrances to the area and other measures including
enhancements to the play area on The Green, plants, traffic calming and
changes to parking; |
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Magor Village,
Monmouthshire, The village has
narrow streets and primary school entrances open onto a busy road. The
scheme includes road humps, a one way system, trees and plants and games for
children;
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Morice Town,
Plymouth, Features
include traffic calming, tree planting and gateway features reflecting the
history and identity of the area;
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New England,
Peterborough, A Home Zone in the New England area, which includes
almost 1,500 households, is being planned. Three road closures have been
introduced to stop 'rat running' traffic using residential roads;
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 | Northmoor,
Manchester, Work on the first of four streets in Northmoor has seen
the introduction of a shared use road for motorists and pedestrians with new
echelon-style parking bays, which act as traffic calming. Future plans
include grass areas, play areas and walkways;
and |
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The Methleys,
in North Leeds, includes traffic calming and a 20mph zone as well as planting and landscaping
which has improved the streetscape. |
In Scotland, four pilot projects are
underway to introduce Home Zones that achieve the broad aims of changing street
use and bringing a wide range of benefits to the resident community:
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Tillydrone,
Aberdeen, This
is an area best described as ‘deprived’. At present, regeneration
proposals are underway that allow for the introduction of traffic calming,
football and basketball areas, and fenced off play areas.
The local community have been heavily involved in the development of
the proposals to date.
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Dundee,
This is a new-build housing site, enclosed by surrounding
roads and new roads developed for access. A communal play area will link two
housing areas and entrance features will be narrowed to a minimum.
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Ormlie
Regeneration Area, Thurso, Desire for a Home Zone has been driven by the
community wish to improve quality of life and reclaim the street space for
general community use. The area has low car ownership and is poorly served
by public transport, but the plan is to introduce a 20 mph zone, open up
green space, and ultimately reallocating road space and removing some
traffic completely. |
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Caledonian Area, Edinburgh, This is a traditional area of high density tenements
to the west of the city centre and is dominated by both resident and
commuter parking. Again the desire is to reclaim the street for general
community use and to introduce more pleasant streetscape with seating, soft
planting and play areas. |
More information
regarding the pilot schemes is available from the Home
Zones News website, which has been developed by the Children's Play Council.
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