Good practice

Lessons can be learned from examples of good practice across Europe and beyond. Importantly, the design and management of public space in cities with hotter and wetter climates than ours can provide useful pointers.

Maximise the potential of public space

Greater Ashford Framework

The Greater Ashford Framework seeks to enhance the role of streets for pedestrian and cycle movement as part of a settlement-wide spatial strategy

Accordia

Accordia provides communal spaces in the form of courtyards and internal avenues

Blue Carpet, Newcastle

The Blue Carpet in Newcastle has created a new attractive public space using recycled bottle glass.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester has been redesigned to support interchange between tram, bus and pedestrian routes

Sheaf Square, Sheffield

Sheaf Square in Sheffield provides an attractive gateway to the city

Blackett Street, Newcastle

The Blackett Street area in Newcastle demonstrates how a committed in-house team in a unitary authority has been able to find new ways to integrate the transport and civic functions of streets in busy and historic city centre.

East London Green Grid

The East London Green Grid framework aims to create a network of interlinked, multi-functional and high quality open spaces.

Adapt to climate change

Nottingham Market Square

Nottingham Market Square integrates strong design features that provide social and events space but also provides water features and extensive tree planting for the future.

Chiswick Business Park

Chiswick Business Park in West London incorporates a range of sustainable design features, including a ‘water neutral’ drainage system and trees that help to reduce air temperature around the office buildings.

Parks Victoria is responding to drought and extreme temperatures in Australia by implementing a coordinated strategy of water and energy conservation, green space management and public education.

Federation Square, Melbourne

A large labyrinth below Federation Square in Melbourne provides cooling of air to naturally ventilate the atrium-like street.

River Quaggy, London

The culverted River Quaggy in south London was naturalised and a newly created floodplain was established in Sutcliffe Park, which also serves as a multi-functional community green space.

Milton Keynes floodplain forest

Milton Keynes floodplain forest involves the restoration of a site adjacent to the River Nene to forest floodplain. Significant extraction of minerals has facilitated the creation of a new landscape and enhanced flood storage capacity.

River Irwell flood control scheme

Salford's flood prevention scheme uses open spaces for temporary water storage when levels get too high. The council has completed the Salford strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA), which now influences planning decisions.