Streetscapes
'Streetscape' can be defined as the visual treatment of the spaces between buildings. These are the places where public life is played out, the public realm. Streetscape is concerned with surfaces (i.e. roads / pavements / hard and soft public spaces) and the items placed upon them (lighting / street furniture / public art). Streetscape is decorative, it is surface treatment, but it is fundamental to the appearance, character, vitality and success of any town.
Poole's 'streetscape' forms a backdrop to our lives. Every single day we interact with the streetscape around us - the streets, walkways and public places. It affects how we feel about our town.
To ensure all developments contribute to the overall character and atmosphere of the town, a specialist team of architects was selected to design a 'streetscape' manual for developers.
This streetscape manual will ensure that the new streets, quaysides and public spaces created by Poole's regeneration have a consistent and attractive appearance and integrate with the town's existing streetscapes and character.
It provides developers with design guidance whilst not wishing to stifle innovation or creativity in individual developments. It will be updated to ensure that Poole's streetscapes reflect changing conditions.
The Team
Specialist Landscape Architects, B+Buk were appointed in March 2003 following a rigorous selection process.
Working with a number of officer from relevant units of the Borough, the team applied its ideas to the environmental, financial and cultural considerations of Poole, for implementation with regeneration sites.
Consultation
During summer 2003 we listened to the views of people from all areas of the town to find out what makes Poole's streetscape unique and what they want to see in the new development.
B+Buk used these views to help shape the Design Manual for developers interested in Poole.
Further consultation took place throughtout May and June 2004. Residents were invited to comment on the Design Manual and asked to give their opinion on how the streets and public spaces should be revamped as part of the Regeneration project.
Following the consultation we worked on the manual refining its proposals in response to the ideas we received from the public and stakeholders. The changes below were taken to Council in the end of 2005.
Streetscape Manual Changes Responses to Public Consultation
Streetscape Design Manual - Adopted Version
This manual links directly to the Council's Masterplan, Planning and Design Guidance for the central area of Poole, and should be read in conjunction with it. Links to the following chapters can be found on the right-hand side of this page.
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: The Spatial Framework
- Chapter 3: Core Strategy & Topic Strategy
- Chapter 4: Landscape Strategy
- Chapter 5: Street Furniture & Signage Strategy
- Chapter 6: Lighting Strategy
- Chapter 7: Art Strategy
- Chapter 8: Application of Guidance - Design Details & Illustrative Designs
- Chapter 9: Sustainability & Utility Strategies
Where the money will come from
Most of Poole's streetscape will be built and paid for by developers. Some of the money generated through the regeneration development will be ploughed back into providing public access to the waters edge on both sides of the Backwater Channel; providing an environment that all of us can use and be proud of.
The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), a Full Sail Ahead partner, has given a grant of £75,000 to fund part of the development of the streetscape manual as part of their "Civic Pride" initiative. These funds will cover the costs for B+Buk to produce a design guide for Poole.
Further Information
View document here above on the website or at the Civic Centre.
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