Existing Home Zones

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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:

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

Morice Town, Plymouth,  Features include traffic calming, tree planting and gateway features reflecting the history and identity of the area;

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;

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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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