Andrew Hugill was managing editor on the 2018 CIHT’s Creating Better Streets’ report and together with the Department for Transport and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, CIHT and WSP is working as project manager on the revised ‘Manual for Streets’ that will be published later this year. 

When I reflect back to 2018 there wasn’t an awareness of inclusion. The schemes we looked at for the report hadn’t set inclusive environments as an objective. Now, there is recognition, but there’s a lot more work to be done.

There is more awareness of the wider implications for society if people can’t go out because they can’t use a street space. People designing and planning need to understand that broader picture – by having more guidance and more research that underpins that guidance.

Data and understanding

Many of the 2018 report’s recommendations were aimed at government. In order for transport professionals, working with local authorities, to create inclusive environments, design and planning needed to be underpinned by research. And that was the responsibility of the government. And research into people’s different needs was also missing. The government has since refreshed its guidance around inclusive mobility.

When you’re planning, designing and constructing something, it’s difficult to make it work for everyone, but we need to take account of the needs of all. For example, the needs of people with visual impairments are very different to the needs of people in wheelchairs. It can come down to whether there is a kerb or not. What can seem like very basic things are very complex.

We’re certainly moving in the right direction but we’re not there yet. It’s work in progress. CIHT and the Department are working together revising a document called Manual for Streets that will give further guidance for inclusive design and street design.

Engaging design

It’s important that engagement is taking place, as opposed to consultation, which was traditionally used. Authorities are engaging more about whether schemes work for everybody. But that takes resource from front of scheme design and authorities haven't got overall funding to engage as fully as is required. Resource funding for local authorities is an issue. Some authorities are having longer-term conversations digitally, for example Leeds City Council has been running ongoing and wider conversations about transport schemes and climate change, but it’s not consistent across the board. Further information can be accessed https://www.ciht.org.uk/knowledge-resource-centre/resources/active-travel/

Movement vs place

Manual for Streets will talk a lot about movement and place from a transport perspective. As transport engineers and planners, we think about moving people and vehicles and goods, but, within towns and cities that takes place in a place. Understanding both those concepts is key. If transport planners and engineers are solely thinking about movement, we’re not going to meet the needs of all the people. As part of the Manual for Streets project, CIHT is engaging closely with the Department for Transport and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – and a strong linkage between those two departments is welcome. There’s still a lot of room for the movement and place sides to understand one another.

Concerns and challenges

The toughest challenge is funding – both resource funding as well as capital funding. The vast majority of streets are under local authorities that are under severe financial pressure. Having the Department for Transport and the Department for Levelling Up working together – that’s the route to better and joined-up funding. Until then, authorities were drawing funding from wherever they could – rather than working holistically.

And there are big challenges in the decarbonisation of transport, and development of sustainable transport and better places. Active travel is a fundamental part of street design now; so too is the bus strategy. Developing them is complex and we have the wrap-around of inclusive design also. There are so many elements that need to come together, if the funding is there.

As part of CIHT Learn, take the course in Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity that’s free to members. And watch out for a new course available soon on Understanding Disability. 

Read the original Creating Better Streets report here and learn about the revised Manual for Streets here.

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