A housing audit for England

Cyclists and pedestrians are being frequently overlooked when it comes to the design of new housing developments in England, according to this report.

The report, which reviews over 140 housing developments built across England since 2007, says developers are focusing too much on roads.

When looking at active travel, the review assessed whether the streets:

– Are pedestrian and cycle friendly and designed to encourage cars to drive slowly (max 20mph) and carefully
– Are designed in a way that they can be used as social spaces, such as spaces for children to play safely or for neighbours to converse
It found that 30% of the developments had either poor (26%) or very poor (4%) facilities for pedestrians and cyclists – with 37% ranked as mediocre.

Just 32% ranked as either good (29%) or very good (3%).

The report says: “The potential for active travel, whether by foot or on a bicycle, has been a key determinant of healthy lifestyles in numerous studies.

“Turning streets from vehicle dominant to pedestrian and cycle friendly spaces involves slowing vehicle speeds (through design), designing parking to avoid conflicts, introducing cycle infrastructure and high quality pavements, and providing attractive street spaces with sufficient street furniture for rest and relaxation.”