Tackling IssuesDesignGood design creates high quality, functional and attractive spaces that meet people’s needs and aspirations. Bad design can cost time and money to put right. Involvement of the community throughout the design process will help to understand and fulfil their expectations. It is also critical in creating a vision and to establish management and maintenance arrangements for a site. As well as defining the function and attractiveness of the space, its design determines the management and maintenance regimes required to ensure it remains fit for purpose. Management plans should be commissioned as part of the design process and the cost of annual maintenance budgeted for within the overall project costs. Green spaces should be accessible and easy to use. They can provide excellent pedestrian and cycle routes, and should link to main pedestrian movements. Spaces should have a clear structure that recognises and reconciles differing uses and integrates the site with the surrounding area. They should also be designed to be user-friendly with, defined routes, clear entrances and landmarks. People also need places where they can be comfortable and places to shelter. Good design creates places that people will want to use and respect, creating natural surveillance. |
