STREETSCAPE GUIDANCE

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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
3.8 Making the most of constrained
space
[Part B] From strategy to delivery 32
Figure 26: Bespoke detailing elements and treatment can help to enhance the sense of place and
reinforce the identity of a street
Kingsland High Street
London Borough of Hackney
E8
Completion date: April 2012
Cost:
£2.58m
Improvements
Recreate the space
Rethink traffic management
Relocate/merge functions
De-clutter
Tidy up
Kingsland High Street is a bustling local centre
in Dalston, east London, that experiences high
footfall and traffic at all hours of the day. Prior
to the improvements, the corridor suffered
from a poor safety record largely as a result of
narrow footways and high levels of pedestrians,
with some forced to walk on the road due to
congestion and inadequate pavement. It was
anticipated that following the completion of
Dalston Junction station this situation would
only worsen as passengers interchange between
Overground stations and buses.
Coupled with the obvious transit-related need
to improve Kingsland High Street, the London
Borough of Hackney recognised the area was
rundown and identified Dalston town centre as
a regeneration area. Streetscape improvements
were seen as the starting point for supporting
regeneration aspirations to better support local
communities and businesses, and encourage
further investment and growth.
Following consultation with various parties
including the police, the major objectives of the
scheme were updated to include:
• Making Dalston a more walkable, attractive
and thriving town centre
• Providing a more integrated streetscene and
transport interchange
• Reducing levels of congestion and increasing
levels of public transport use, cycling and walking
• Improving access to jobs, facilities and
businesses
• Improving safety and security for residents
and businesses
To simulate the effects of the scheme, which
proposed a narrowed carriageway, a six-week
trial was run. Temporary barriers were used to
demonstrate that despite the reduction in overall
capacity, congestion levels and bus travel times
were not worsened.
This shift towards pedestrian priority is
reflected in the new streetscape design which
incorporates widened, decluttered and improved
footways in Yorkstone and highlighted crossings.
The transport interchange was highlighted with
a bespoke treatment on the carriageway and
relocation of bus stops. Businesses are better
served with loading bays on the footway in
granite setts. Wide kerbs were used to reinforce
footway zones and bespoke paving was used to
highlight special areas and enhance wayfinding.
Lighting columns and lanterns were updated to
LED. Despite the reduced carriageway capacity,
traffic signals have been optimised to ensure
that bus travel times are maintained and vehicle
congestion minimised.