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MANUAL FOR STREETS (MfS)
[‘Could be the most influential document on Urban Design in 50 years’]
Bob De’Ath recently represented Tully De’Ath at the launch of the long awaited new street design guidance document. He joined about 200 other Town Planning/Highway/Transportation professionals to listen to the keynote address by Gillian Merron MP Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Transport giving her full and thorough support for this ground breaking piece of design work. Her address was followed throughout the day by the various authors of the work explaining how the research had become the reality.
This document replaces the long standing design document DB32 which is now withdrawn and whereas DB32 was a standard/policy document, MfS is simply for guidance. This leaves the emphasis on the designers and the regulating auditors to make the cultural shift from ‘standards to judgement’ and ‘risk elimination to risk management’.
Significant amounts of the guidance for highway design is rooted in the anecdotal evidence of research into vehicle speeds under different design environments thus arming the designers with the ability to interpret the bespoke features of each and every design with regard to the street geometry and design.
The Manual expects there to be early consultation with the regulating authority in order to set down the principles of the proposed design and it is expected that the design process will incorporate the following stages:-
- Policy Review
- Objectives Setting
- Quality Auditing
- Design
- Planning Approval
- Implementation
- Monitoring
(see Chapter 3.0, Table 3.1 Manual for Streets 2007 for a more complete explanation)
Clearly much has been recently said about ‘street scenes’, ‘home zones’, ‘retaining the streets for all uses, not just cars, vans etc.’ and this guidance document continues the theme but in a way that seeks to achieve a balance between all users.
The clear message at the launch was that everyone is now charged to use this new document because the old ones are withdrawn. Everyone has to study the recommendations as to how to implement the process. The regulating authorities are entitled to set down their own local standards which may embody some of the old standards, but the design team can to a large extent challenge any of these standards for being too rigid. MfS explains the formulae for stopping distances/sight lines/ manoeuvring criteria and we are informed that these have all been derived from researched data, so the two parties are challenged to implement the finding of considerable amounts of research.
The outcome should be more practical designs, supported by probably more safety audits. The designers are urged to:-
- Recognise that one size does not fit all
- Be flexible
- Act like engineers again and not tick boxes
The regulating authorities are urged to:-
- To review their standards and guidance to embrace the principles of MfS
Tully De’Ath with be looking forward to every opportunity to embrace ‘Manual for Streets’, and our ‘Highways and Transportation teams’ are studying the document in readiness for the design process. However, it is important that all our Town Planners and Architectural colleagues are also on board with the challenges and opportunities that this new publication presents.
MYATTS FIELD NORTH PFI
This is an exciting opportunity combining development and social housing to the Housing PFI market.
Myatts Field North is an estate of over 12 hectares that was built in the 1970’s and is located within a mile of the Oval Cricket Ground.
The project comprises of a:
• PFI led element involving the demolition and new build replacement of 251 new rented units, the refurbishment of 172 rented and leasehold properties
• Private development of 238 properties with 54 shared ownership and 187 new for sales.
The timescale for Financial close is April 2008 and Tully De’Ath joins a design team led by Mansell Construction Services as design and build partners in the Create Homes Consortium with Balfour Beatty Capital and Sanctuary Housing Association. Originally 8 consortia bid but 3 have been invited to proceed to ISDS stage, of which our consortium is one.
New appointment at Tully De’Ath
Tully De’Ath is particularly pleased to announce the appointment of Harriet Davies as Business Performance Manager.
Harriet brings with her a wealth of analytical experience most lately from AXA PPP. With an accountancy background her skills are being used to ensure that our business continues to operate to its full potential by analysing each and every aspect so that we can perform both smarter and harder.
Managing Director, Bob De’Ath, said ‘Harriet is another strong addition to an already dynamic management team. Her appointment yet again underlines our commitment to proactively manage and develop our business.’
Harriet commented ‘This is a role that I’m looking forward to enormously. With such a fine tuned business already in operation I relish the challenge of helping to improve its performance even further.’
New Commissions
Erith High Street, Kent - with William Verry and Alan Camp Architects. This project is being developed on behalf of Hexagon Housing Association in conjunction with Bexley Council. It has a contract value of £16m.
The project involves the construction of a six/seven storey building with commercial and public amenity use on the ground and mezzanine floors and 31 general needs flats for rent, 22 shared ownership flats, 10 Key Worker shared ownership flats and 20 high value shared ownership flats on the upper floors. The scheme also provides basement and ground floor car parking and service areas.
Planning permission has been granted and enabling works have commenced.
Lennig House, Croydon - with Durkan New Homes Ltd and architects BWA. This £16m scheme involves the conversion of an existing 10 storey office block into 1and 2 storey residential accommodation.
Tully De’Ath is providing engineering solutions that feature the addition of one and two storeys to different parts of the existing structure. The current open car park is to feature a podium deck that delivers a courtyard and mews houses.
Market Estate, Islington - with Higgins Construction and HTA Architects. The redevelopment of this historic site in Islington involves the demolition of 5 and 6 storey 1960’s blocks of flats with underground parking and the building of new modern houses and flats up to 6 storeys high. Phase 1 will be constructed whilst the site is still occupied. Residents will then decant into Phase 1 prior to phases 2 and 3 being constructed.
Coombe Road, Maidstone - for Kier Partnership Homes and Maidstone Housing Trust. This project at Bell Road, Park Wood in Maidstone valued at £18m, involves the demolition of existing tower blocks and replacing them with over 150 new timber framed houses and flats. The development includes the provision of new roads designed to be Home Zones.
New Faces at Tully De'Ath
Harriet Davies MAAT
Harriet brings with her a wealth of analytical experience most lately from AXA PPP. With an accountancy background her skills are being used to ensure that our business continues to operate to its full potential by analysing each and every aspect so that we can perform both smarter and harder.
Gareth O’Sullivan IEng MICE
Gareth joins us as a Project Engineer with 8 years structural design experience. He has worked predominantly in the residential sector for major house builders and has undertaken several refurbishment schemes including multi-storey car parks, LUL station upgrades and commercial building modifications where structural inspections & concrete condition surveys reports have been required. Gareth has recently developed the companies training scheme for graduate engineers undertaking the ICE & IStructE professional reviews.
Kirsty Dearson-Jones BEng (Hons)
Kirsty has recently achieved a 1st Class BEng (Hons) degree from Kingston University, by part-time study. She has also recently joined the London Team as a Project Engineer with 9 years experience both in AutoCAD and Structural Engineering.
Rikesh Shah MEng (Hons)
Having achieved first class honours in MEng Civil Engineering at Loughborough University, Rikesh joined us as a Graduate Engineer. Rikesh has knowledge in a number of software packages and has joined to gain the necessary experience to advance to Chartered Engineer status.
Charlotte Lewis
With a background working within the Construction Industry and Professional Sport, Charlotte joins us as a Technical Support Secretary. Charlotte has worked as a PA/Secretary for Rydon Construction, Glen Gilmore, Captain of the Australian Polo Team and HRH Crown Prince Abdullah of Pahang. Charlotte brings her extensive organisational and administrative skills to Tully De’Ath and is keen to develop her skills further within a company with opportunity for progression in the future.
Matthew Jones
For the past 7 years Matthew has worked providing technical support services in the film and television industry for a diverse range of clients from the BBC to the Volvo round the world yacht race. Used to supporting systems in high pressure environments he is well suited to maintaining Tully De'ath's IT infrastructure and continuing our growth and development into new technologies.
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Community Action
Forest Row Primary School
Tully De’Ath are once again pleased to lend support to the Governors, Staff and Pupils of its local Primary School. With the school in the course of delivering its Travel Plan we are working with them to provide engineering solutions that will help to maximise space and usage of their car park, whilst ensuring safety at all times.
Sponsorship of Crawley Down Under 11A’s
For
a further year Tully De’Ath are proud sponsor’s of the Crawley
Down Under 11A’s football team. For all grass root footie enthusiasts
here is the link to the club website http://www.crawleydownfc.com