Manual for Streets
Encyclopedia
In England and Wales, the Manual for Streets provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new streets, and modifications to existing ones. It aims to increase the quality of life through good design which creates more people-oriented streets. Although the detailed guidance in the document applies mainly to residential streets, the overall design principles apply to all streets within urban areas.
A street is defined as "a highway with important public realm functions beyond the movement of motor traffic" – i.e. by its function rather than some arbitrary traffic flow limit.
(DfT) and the Department for Communities and Local Government
(DCLG), with support from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
(CABE), commissioned WSP Group
, Transport Research Laboratory
(TRL), Llewelyn Davies Yeang and Phil Jones Associates to develop Manual for Streets to give guidance to a range of practitioners on effective street design.
Manual for Streets was published on 29 March 2007. It superseded Design Bulletin 32 – Residential Roads and Footpaths – Layout Considerations (DB32) and the companion guide Places, Streets and Movement, which have now been withdrawn. A copy of the manual as well a summary and supporting research can be downloaded from the Department for Transport.
Manual for Streets has updated geometric guidelines for low trafficked residential streets, examines the effect of the environment on road user behaviour, and draws on practice in other countries. This research undertaken by Transport Research Laboratory
(TRL) provides the evidence base upon which the revised geometric guidelines in the Manual for Streets are based, including link widths, forward visibility, visibility splays and junction spacing.
Manual for Streets applies in England and Wales and is national guidance, not a policy document.
The Scottish Government commissioned WSP Group
, Phil Jones Associates and Edaw to produce Designing Streets
, a version of Manual for Streets for application in Scotland, which was due to be published in Spring 2009. Unlike Manual for Streets, it is currently intended that the chapters of Designing Streets that set key design principles for streets will form national policy.
Manual for Streets 2: Wider Application of the Principles was launched on 29 September 2010 in London. It is designed to be read alongside the original Manual rather than to supersede it. It is available to buy for £40 in paper form from its publisher, the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), as well as the usual retail outlets. CIHT staff reported at the launch that it will not be available to download for up to a year.
of street networks. Critics argue that, by encouraging permeability of street networks for motor vehicles, MfS undermines its declared intention to reduce the domination of streets by motor traffic. Sustrans
, the sustainable transport charity, whilst giving a cautious welcome to the Manual, argues that the guidance should limit permeability for motor vehicles and provide full permeability for walking and cycling. Melia (2008) goes further, arguing: "By multiplying opportunities for ‘rat-running' [the approach in Manual for Streets will] increase the capacity of a road network to carry traffic – and, course to emit CO2. In other words, it is a cheaper variation on the 'build our way out of congestion' theme."
A street is defined as "a highway with important public realm functions beyond the movement of motor traffic" – i.e. by its function rather than some arbitrary traffic flow limit.
Overview
The UK Department for TransportDepartment for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
(DfT) and the Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
(DCLG), with support from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment was an executive non-departmental public body of the UK government, established in 1999. It was funded by both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Communities and Local Government.-Function:CABE was the...
(CABE), commissioned WSP Group
WSP Group
WSP Group plc is a British-based business providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, Transport Research Laboratory
Transport Research Laboratory
TRL is a British transport consultancy and research organisation based at Wokingham Berkshire with approximately 500 staff. TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation , which is overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry. TRL also own small UK regional offices situated in...
(TRL), Llewelyn Davies Yeang and Phil Jones Associates to develop Manual for Streets to give guidance to a range of practitioners on effective street design.
Manual for Streets was published on 29 March 2007. It superseded Design Bulletin 32 – Residential Roads and Footpaths – Layout Considerations (DB32) and the companion guide Places, Streets and Movement, which have now been withdrawn. A copy of the manual as well a summary and supporting research can be downloaded from the Department for Transport.
Manual for Streets has updated geometric guidelines for low trafficked residential streets, examines the effect of the environment on road user behaviour, and draws on practice in other countries. This research undertaken by Transport Research Laboratory
Transport Research Laboratory
TRL is a British transport consultancy and research organisation based at Wokingham Berkshire with approximately 500 staff. TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation , which is overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry. TRL also own small UK regional offices situated in...
(TRL) provides the evidence base upon which the revised geometric guidelines in the Manual for Streets are based, including link widths, forward visibility, visibility splays and junction spacing.
Manual for Streets applies in England and Wales and is national guidance, not a policy document.
The Scottish Government commissioned WSP Group
WSP Group
WSP Group plc is a British-based business providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, Phil Jones Associates and Edaw to produce Designing Streets
Designing Streets
Desiging Streets is a policy and guidance document published by the Scottish Government in March 2010. It provides guidance for practitioners in Scotland involved in the planning, design, provision, approval and adoption of all new streets, and modifications to existing ones.-Development of the...
, a version of Manual for Streets for application in Scotland, which was due to be published in Spring 2009. Unlike Manual for Streets, it is currently intended that the chapters of Designing Streets that set key design principles for streets will form national policy.
Manual for Streets 2: Wider Application of the Principles was launched on 29 September 2010 in London. It is designed to be read alongside the original Manual rather than to supersede it. It is available to buy for £40 in paper form from its publisher, the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), as well as the usual retail outlets. CIHT staff reported at the launch that it will not be available to download for up to a year.
Criticisms
Manual for Streets has been criticised for its approach to permeabilityPermeability (spatial and transport planning)
Permeability or connectivity describes the extent to which urban forms permit movement of people or vehicles in different directions. The terms are often used interchangeably, although differentiated definitions also exist...
of street networks. Critics argue that, by encouraging permeability of street networks for motor vehicles, MfS undermines its declared intention to reduce the domination of streets by motor traffic. Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
, the sustainable transport charity, whilst giving a cautious welcome to the Manual, argues that the guidance should limit permeability for motor vehicles and provide full permeability for walking and cycling. Melia (2008) goes further, arguing: "By multiplying opportunities for ‘rat-running' [the approach in Manual for Streets will] increase the capacity of a road network to carry traffic – and, course to emit CO2. In other words, it is a cheaper variation on the 'build our way out of congestion' theme."
External links
- Manual for Streets website.
- Manual for Streets: a summary (PDF, 916 kb). Published 11 December 2007.
- Manual for Streets (PDF, 5 Mb). Published 29 March 2007.
- The Manual for Streets: evidence and research (PDF, 10 Mb). Published 19 June 2007.
- Order printed copies of Manual for Streets (PDF, 12 kb). Published 31 May 2007.
- Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation