Urban Design and the Public Realm

Planning Services undertakes urban design projects within the public realm and provides urban design advice on planning applications and on transportation and highway schemes.

Urban design is concerned with how places look and work, the relationship between buildings and spaces, and the places that they create, and about how people use places; how they work.

“Good design should the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere” (PPG 1, para 15) 

Good urban design is based on two key overarching principles:

• Understanding and responding to the context
• Involving stakeholders and users in the process

The public realm is an aspect of urban design that is becoming more prominent and gaining a higher profile.  The public realm is all space to which the public has ready physical and visual access. It includes all streets and roads, public spaces, green spaces, private gardens, squares, footpaths, and parks.

Advice on Transport and Highways Schemes

Urban design advice is also offered in the development of transportation and highway schemes.  The aim of this advice is to improve the visual appearance of schemes, to advice on materials in order to reinforce local distinctiveness, and to identify any other linkages or opportunities so that wider benefits can be achieved.  As always advice is best sought at an early stage in the process.