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
3.13 Rebranding a town centre
[Part B] From strategy to delivery 42
Figure 31: Hornchurch High Street has benefitted from a series of interventions aimed at enhancing
the pedestrian environment and reducing the visual and physical impact of vehicular traffic, resulting
in a more prosperous town centre
Hornchurch
London Borough of Havering
RM11
Completion date: April 2013
Cost:
£2.5m
Improvements
Recreate the space
Rethink traffic management
Relocate/merge functions
De-clutter
Tidy up
Hornchurch town centre is an important district
centre in Havering distinguished by its medieval
street pattern and modern centre. Although
Hornchurch’s retail economy is relatively healthy,
the recent downturn has had a negative impact on
local businesses. The area also suffers from road
congestion, poor personal safety, inadequate
inclusive design features and a tired public realm.
Recognising the increasing need for intervention,
London Borough of Havering set out a
programme of works consisting of cultural
and residential redevelopment, physical
improvements to the high street and support to
rebrand businesses.
Key features of the scheme included a focus
on improving pedestrian permeability. This
was achieved by removing guardrail, placing
crossings on desire lines, increasing the width
of the footways and implementing a continual
central pedestrian crossing strip. The scheme
also improved social spaces through planting,
new lighting, wayfinding and street furniture. In
addition to these, traffic was smoothed, bus
stops were made fully accessible, and better
provisions for cycling were installed.
Further public realm works have begun with
additional funding from TfL following the success
of the high street’s improvements, which won
a ‘highly commended’ Urban Transport Design
Award in 2014.