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A Home zone is a street or group of streets where there is
no separate road and pavement. Instead, there is a shared area for
everyone - road users, pedestrians and residents.
The idea of a home zone is to make the street's social function
- as a space for residents - more important than its highway
function.
Why have a Home zone?
The aim of Home zone schemes is to improve the quality of life
and sense of community in a street. By opening up the road to
everyone, so that it is not just for the exclusive use of cars, the
space can be used for a wide range of activities.
Home zones can:
- turn residential streets into public space for residents
- create a greater sense of community
- encourage a wider range of activities in the street
- encourage active play and exercise for children
- increase road safety
- encourage walking and cycling in the local area
- improve the environment in urban streets and encourage demand
for urban living
The movement of motor vehicles is not normally banned or
restricted in home zones. But the design should give a clear
message to drivers to drive slowly and carefully - and to be aware
that they are sharing the street with other users.
Who can set up a home zone?
Many home zones are now being included within new developments.
We encourage developers and planners to consider including home
zones when planning new developments.
However, it is difficult and costly to introduce a home zone
into an existing street because of the lack of space. One major
problem is that there would be a loss of on-street parking if a
home zone was created, and this is often a reason for residents to
reject a scheme.
Residents need to take a leading role if they want to have an
existing street turned into a home zone.
What would I need to do to turn my street into a home
zone?
Creating a home zone in an existing street involves a lot more
than just taking up pavements and installing bollards. The
engineering work that goes into home zones is the last, and
possibly easiest, stage in a long process.
The most important and challenging step will be to get the
involvement and agreement of local residents. No on-road parking is
possible in a home zone, for example - and that's something that
not everyone might agree to.
One of the first steps to take would be to set up a local
residents' association to discuss and push forward the idea.
Residents would also need to consider and talk to the wider
community. One result of a home zone may push parking onto
neighbouring streets, and this and other issues would need to be
discussed.
Local residents would also need to plan and decide what they
want from their home zone; what it would include and look like.
Home zones are a residents-led scheme
The engineering work to create a home zone is the final link in
a long chain.
Another challenge of creating a home zone is that it is an
expensive process, and resources are limited. So residents will
need to get involvement from local community groups and
organisations, and even look for help with funding from other
sources.
In most cases, residents would need to take all these steps
before asking to consider starting the expensive consultation and
engineering work need to create a home zone.
These steps are challenging, but not impossible.
Home zones information and advice on what residents can do, and
how to do it, is available at the
International
Home Zones website (this will open a new window).
Home zones in Kent
There are currently three home zone schemes in Kent:
- Cavel Way, Sittingbourne
- Rose Avenue, Northcourt Estate, Gravesend
- Thistle Road, Northcourt Estate,
Gravesend
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