Clifton - Nottingham

This scheme is part of Nottingham's largest outer estate. The area consists of over 600 houses from the late 1970's, spread around one D shaped spine road and 19 cul-de-sacs. The housing is mainly two storey blocks with some three stories high. There is a large amount of low quality open space, which is underused. The spine road provides good access and has regular bus services along it. The spine road is the focus of the first phase of the scheme, which has a total of 3 phrases.

The scheme has been designed by David Locke Associates, Planning and Urban Design consultants. In their submission to the Planning committee they outline the ideas of a woonerf, and how these relate to their vision.

Their vision is a "comprehensive application of woonerf principles to the secondary streets" of the development. "The opportunity to create these safe streets or 'Home Zones' is created by [their] Master Plan", this plan removes parked cars from the street to the courtyards created within the blocks. By doing this the designers claim that the streets can be designed as places without the clutter of parked cars. The plan also includes provision for children's play equipment and communal barbecues, within these communal courtyards.

In my opinion, whilst this sounds very promising, these ideas are let down by the urban form that appears to be full of cul-de-sac's and gated courtyards. If these dead ends are creating possible links to future development areas, this is possibly a good strategy, however if the truly are cul-de-sac's an opportunity has been missed, to create a good example of new build Home Zones.

This proposal is currently being considered by Milton Keynes Planning Authority.

Copyright: Matthew Bridgestock, Home Zones Good Practice in Britain and Henbury, Bristol Feasibility Study, Publication date March 2000.

If you are interested in the full publication, e-mail Matthew