In 2010 the policy document Designing Streets (DS) was launched as the first policy statement in Scotland for street design. It marked a change in the emphasis of guidance towards placemaking and away from a system focused upon accommodating the movement of motor vehicles. DS was created to support the Scottish Government’s placemaking agenda and sit alongside the 2001 policy document Designing Places (DP) which sets out government aspirations for design and the role of the planning system in delivering these. DS emphasises well-designed and well-connected streets as crucial components in sustainable placemaking. This has an important role not only in the immediate quality of the public spaces that we use every day but also in reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change and in improving people's health in Scotland. Well-designed streets are a vital resource in social, cultural and economic terms, within Scotland’s urban and rural settlements. The policies within DS moved away from a prescriptive standards-based approach, to one where designers and local authorities should collaborate to unlock the full potential of streets to become vibrant, safe and attractive places. The premise upon which the document is based is that good street design should derive from an intelligent response to location, rather than rigidly applied standards, regardless of context. This demands taking into account site-specific requirements and involves early engagement with all relevant parties. (Author/publisher)
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