John Thomson C.Eng MICE, C. Env FIAT

(Chairman) Institution of Civil Engineers Municipal Expert Panel

Lead on SCOTS Development Control Group

My background

T in the Park A city that appears and disappears over a weekend

Planned Cities

Development issues – well some of them!!

Local Authority issues

Well connected to

public transport

Walkable

Neighbourhoods

High quality urbanism

that creates definable streets

Guidance – and what goes wrong!

SCOTS National Roads Development Guide

Underground Management

Parking

• Garage space as a parking space.

Quality Audit

Project brief

QA begins with checks against design objectives set at an early stage. The

project brief is possibly the most important reference for any project setting out

the vision of development. All project briefs for works in the (street based)

public realm should define clear and concise objectives in relation to the 6

qualities of Successful Places, detailed in Designing Streets and defined

in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).

Quality Audit

• All project briefs for works in the (street based) public realm should define clear and concise objectives

in relation to the 6 qualities of Successful Places, detailed in Designing Streets

• The design aspects of walkable neighbourhoods, connections within a place, connections to

wider networks and orientation will also feature in this approach. A QA may need to include some

additional specific individual assessments and audits such as:

• A Road Safety Audit, if required Based on DMRB HA 19/03 identify potential safety problems and

assess possible actions to reduce risk.

• An Accessibility & Equality Audit to show due regard - demonstrate compliance with the Equalities

Act 2010.

• A Maintenance Audit to consider the whole life cost impacts of project elements.

• Individual audits should not necessarily result in a series of formal reports -, information concerning each

aspect of street design, or building block, should be recorded so that a decision making trail can be

established.

• Other issues may need to be considered in more depth during the QA process such as crime & disorder,

elements related to personal security & safety, and lighting of public spaces.

Audits and Assessments

• Non-motorised User Audit

• Functionality Audit

• Visual Quality & Amenity Audit, Street Character Review

• Parking Review

• Drainage Report

• Maintenance Audit

Quality Audit

Quality Audit Summary Report

A Summary Report brings together all quality checks of a proposal at any given stage.

A joined-up assessment that seeks a balanced response by risk assessment that quantifies both the risk severity, and

likelihood of risk occurring before identifying solutions

The QA summary report is often iterative but is particularly beneficial in the following circumstances

at option testing stage;

at pre-application stage, then updated for planning and RCC (Stage 1) applications;

where strong tensions exist between different objectives;

for schemes within existing streets, providing an opportunity for decision-makers to make a balanced assessment

before approving a particular improvement solution; or,

to explain the thinking on street design that can feed into a Design Statement, or Design and Access Statement, if

one of these is required.

A QA summary report should at least be submitted along with a Roads Construction Consent application and, to meet

Designing Streets policy, in parallel with the planning application. The same information should sum up the approach to

quality public space and street layout. .

Quality Audit

As construction nears completion a QA review is undertaken to

ensure the recommendations have been taken on-board and the

scheme objectives are delivered. (RSA stage 3)

During the maintenance period a review is undertaken to establish

if the original scheme objectives and any expected changes in road

user behaviour have been achieved. (RSA stage 4 )

Construction, Maintenance and Monitoring

Effective Infrastructure is invisible!

Infrastructure

Infrastructure condition

Visibility

Good Infrastructure operates and functions as expected by society It is normally invisible!

Exceptional Infrastructure visibility becomes apparent

Visibility

Infrastructure is lavished with Outstanding design with high quality materials

As quality increases so does perception of civic pride

Attractive to business and visitors Valued Inspirational Well thought through and thought off.

Attention lavished on public space and infrastructure elements is noticeable and appreciated

Exceptional Infrastructure visibility becomes apparent

Visibility

Infrastructure is lavished with Outstanding design with high quality materials

As quality increases so does perception of civic pride

Attractive to business and visitors Valued Inspirational Well thought through and thought off.

This is where people want to be! Footfall increases and business flourishes

Poor Infrastructure visibility becomes apparent

Visibility

Infrastructure suffers from Poor condition and deterioration

As quality decreases society becomes increasingly aware of problems

•Poor regard •Un-valued •Poor financial management •Exceptional cost of recovery •Social linkage and additional cost e.g. Police / health transport subsidy

Lack of care and attention on public space and infrastructure elements is noticeable –

but not appreciated

Poor Infrastructure visibility becomes apparent

Visibility

Infrastructure suffers from Poor condition and deterioration

As quality decreases society becomes increasingly aware of problems

This is where people don’t want to be! Society tends to deteriorate and businesses weeps away over time

Poor regard Un-valued Poor financial management Exceptional cost of recovery Social linkage and additional cost e.g. Police / health transport subsidy

The Viking ship analysis

The problem is identifying when infrastructure is demonstrably becoming visible

Current indicators are public opinion surveys, press reports awards or complaints

Density of footfall / population trends to one of these outcomes

Visual evidence from existing locations and public space. • Good quality and consistent coloured Road materials trends to positive • Utility damaged, heavily patching and potholed roads trends to negative

Positive Negative

The Viking ship analysis

0 25 50 75 100

Critical Zone

1 9

The Viking ship analysis

• Measure trends

• Local and national schemes

• Economic performance

• Influence vibrancy

• Visual impact

• Ranges of details appropriate to that case.

• Identifies where infrastructure improvements can deliver

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

Questions