Streetwise

Today, every new residential and mixed use development represents an opportunity to create good places for people to live.

Safety remains a primary consideration, but in the context of a proper understanding of the risks. No longer are designs 'standards driven'; instead they are the result of collaborative working and careful assessment against a range of criteria.

As part of this both the Kent Design Guide and Manual for Streets help build an excellent reputation for new areas of public space.

As innovative thinking is put into practice the outcomes are monitored and their soundness is reviewed. Residents' satisfaction surveys are particularly important. Good and bad practice is shared, raising standards in some, encouraging innovation among others.

Benefits

• 'Intelligent engineering', as it has been called, finds highway engineers looking at all the functions of public space between buildings.
• In pursuit of places that can accommodate movement, meeting, play and parking, such engineers are recognising and applying quality as a test alongside functionality and safety.