Consultation Draft 1 - Stoke-on-Trent City Council

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 4
Environmental Issues
Environmental quality should be supported through a variety of
measures, including the delivery of green infrastructure and sustainable
transport options. Green infrastructure provides natural
cooling and shelter from extreme weather conditions within the
streetscape. It also helps to alleviate the carbon footprint of commercial
businesses in the long term, in addition to providing an
attractive environment. Green infrastructure can be enhanced
through street tree planting, hedging, green walls and green
roofs.
Softworks - incorporated to reinforce the creation of a green
character of the City Centre and sense of place. Trees located
in hard paved areas should have provision for maximum growing
conditions in order to provide longevity and good quality trees
that serve to minimise extreme climate variations. Specifications
should include for the correct selection of tree and plant
species, planted in the right conditions with proper maintenance
procedures in order to maximise the life cycle of the trees. Use
of native species will be encouraged, although final selection of
plant species should be appropriate to the scheme and ensure
successful establishment.
Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) should be used in
large hard surfaced areas, including car parking across the City
Centre, by way of addressing water management and future
proofing the City Centre from flooding.
Given the extent of the City Centre that is currently cleared for
regeneration purposes, or about to be cleared, this is an unprecedented
opportunity to create a truly sustainable City Centre
within a very short time frame.
Options for transport modes need to be increased, including
provision for sustainable transport links, in order to reverse the
current trend of over reliance on the private car by historic development.
The provision of excellent cycling facilities (to support
the City Cycle Initiative that <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent City Council are
implementing) and public transport provision is required, in order
to achieve this objective. High quality public realm treatments
will help to make these options more attractive.
The public realm highlights key sustainable transport links, including
links to surrounding residential areas, strong links to the
Caldon Canal Way and extended cycle network for cyclists, attractive
arrival points, particularly for Street Car users and the development
of the Transport Interchange (appropriately positioned
on the fringe of the City Centre, but allowing easy access to the
City Centre). These links have been highlighted with a view to
increasing accessibility whilst reducing car dependence and traffic
congestion.
Enhancements to primary and secondary routes will also emphasise
quick pedestrian routes across the City Centre. Car parking
will observe benchmark guidance set out in the Park Mark Safer
Parking Assessment Guidelines. Conflicts between pedestrian
and vehicular users shall be minimised.
Public realm improvements intended to enhance legibility will
also improve the perception of a safer environment, as pedestrians
and cyclists will be able to form a more immediate understanding
of the structure of the City Centre. Liaison with the Staffordshire
Police Architectural Liaison Officer will be a requirement
in the development process for major developments.
Design needs to work on different levels from form and function
to flexibility and durability.
Surfaces - use of good quality natural materials to provide a
durable surface. Paving installation should be future proofed to
allow for anticipated uses such as vehicular over-run, events and
street trading uses. Materials should be sourced locally where
possible. Materials should be assessed under the life cycle assessment,
in order to evaluate and ultimately reduce the environmental
impacts of specific materials.
The development of a specific lighting scheme will be crucial
to a reduction in crime and the promotion of a safe and secure
place to be. When appropriately installed, lighting will reduce
anti-social behaviour by improving general levels of illumination
and quality of colour rendition. This will enhance the sense of
safety and security within the City Centre at night time. Lighting
pollution will be reduced and low energy bulbs will reduce energy
consumption. Lighting installation shall be in accordance with
current British Standards.
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