Transition of residential street use as Woonerf (Living Street) in the UK

Changes regarding Home Zones

Abstract

This paper reviews public street design, rules, and people's attitude towards creating livable streets in the UK. The first Home Zone space was buil in 1969, but it took three decades to enable UK highway authorities to designate Home Zone, and put up traffic signs. Central government funded pilot projects, but not many cases were actually followed because of their high cost and difficulty in gaining meet residents' agreement. However, there is a history of the use streets as playgrounds since 1938, which limited car access into streets to facilitate children's play. Local government has now replaced this with Play Street Orders. Many people consider it important for streets to not only be used for movment. There is recognition that streets should be more walkable to encourage people to walk for their health. The UK has a culture of street use as livable places, although it is not obvious in most residential streets.