Public space policy

Cities have control or influence over the design and management of public spaces contained in their powers and duties under local government, planning, highways and new roads and street works legislation.

Planning policy and guidance

PPS1: Planning and Climate Change emphasises the role of public space design and management in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

PPG17: Open Spaces includes requirements for assessing open spaces, creating local planning policies and setting local open space standards.

PPG13: Transport gives greater priority to people over ease of traffic movement by providing more road space to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

Department of Transport’s Manual for Streets provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new residential streets, and modifications to existing ones. It complements PPS3: Housing and sets out how to deliver high quality streets which function as places as well as thoroughfares.

CABE Space has put together a policy guide to adapting public space for climate change at different scales.

The RTPI's good practice note, Delivering Healthy Communities, places a lot of emphasis on the benefits that well designed parks, open spaces and streets can bring in relation to health, wellbeing and quality of life and encourages the planning and health sector to work together to plan for healthy communities.

Other legislation

Public space design and management is affected by a variety of controlling influences from highway legislation such as the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions to utilities legislation such as the New Roads and Street Works Act. The variety of influences often makes public space design challenging, but this should be seen as an opportunity to achieve optimum solutions.