STREETSCAPE GUIDANCE

HOME
INTRODUCTION
PART A
A vision for London’s streets
PART B
From strategy to delivery
PART C
New measures for new challenges
PART D
Balancing priorities
PART F
Appendix
PART E
Physical design and materials
SECTION 6
Introduction
SECTION 7
High quality footways
SECTION 8
Carriageways
SECTION 9
Crossings
SECTION 10
Kerbside activity
SECTION 11
Footway amenities
SECTION 12
Safety and functionality
SECTION 13
Street environment
SECTION 14
Transport interchanges
Streetscape Guidance
[Part E – Physical design and materials] Street environment 273
13.1 Street environment
London’s street environment is influenced by a
range of features which contribute significantly
to the creation of distinctive and successful
places. These features shape the look and feel of
our streets, and vary between more obvious
streetscape items, such as lighting columns and
trees which should be positive attributes of the
streetscene, to largely unnoticed or hidden
structures such as drainage systems which are
critical in the operation and management of it.
The importance of these features cannot be
understated as they often ‘set the scene’ for life
to take place on a street. They can also improve
the experience of the street by providing tangible
benefits such as pleasant, green social spaces for
the enjoyment of local communities, and by
improving surface runoff and water quality
through an integrated sustainable urban drainage
system (SuDS) network; to more intangible
benefits such as enhancing the perception of
safety in an area during the evening.
13.2 Growing a greener London
Vision
Much of the green infrastructure (GI) in London
– including street trees, woodland, planted areas,
grass and wildflowers – can be found alongside
the road network. It is hugely important that
these assets are properly planned, maintained
and managed by the relevant arboriculture and
landscape professionals. Delivering a cleaner,
greener streetscape is central to achieving the
Figure 269: Trees can reinforce movement patterns and also provide a comfortable place to wait
for the next bus
Figure 270: All public realm schemes should
contribute to increasing the amount of green
infrastructure across London