Can a return to Localism save the High Street?
This post-lockdown environment could provide an opportunity for High Streets to become a truly sustainable urban centre. One that not only addresses environmental concerns but also the change in social and economic aspects that have been brought about by Covid-19.
Holmes Miller has developed a number of design incursions that could be made within a High Street to look at how a commerce led, mono-use environment can be developed into a vibrant, sustainable town centre at the same time considering how the digital overlay of a Town Centre App (T.C.A.) can give an enhanced accessibility to many aspects of life and services provided.
Parklets
A parklet temporarily reclaims space from cars and creates a environment for people to sit and occupy in the fresh air increasing the extent of the public realm along with dwell time by visitors.
The parklet can be designed to accommodate diverse uses from planting to art exhibitions with social distancing measures adopted to suit the situation at that time. This variety of uses can make such an incursion attractive to a wide range of users providing a space of calm and repose off the busy street.
T.C.A.
During lockdown many restaurants have turned to delivery service to maintain operation and people have become familiar with using apps to order their food. Tables within a parklet can serve multiple, nearby food outlets and businesses, particularly those who are limited on seating. The T.C.A. app enables users at their table in the parklet to order food and notifies the outlet with a table number for service, allowing the parklet to become an extension of the social and economic aspects of the town.
Sustainable Urban Transport Network
As part of their daily ‘one form of exercise’ people are running and taking to their bicycles. When the lockdown is over it is assumed that they will maintain this activity and, with an initial reluctance to be in close proximity with strangers, public transport will take a while to be used as once was. Short journeys, such as a trip to your local high street, with restricted parking available, may now be undertaken by bike, scooter or on foot.
Town centre transport improvements can be localised and integrated into the high street public realm improvements. Secure bicycle and scooter parking and share schemes can be introduced through physically altering the streetscape to incorporate a town map, bicycle stands, recharge points for electric vehicles powered by solar panelling, a wifi hotspot and landscaping.
T.C.A.
The T.C.A. would not only show position of bike parks, availability of cycles/spaces at each but also provide integrated information on leisure cycle route and when confidence in public transport returns, bus/train times for joined journeys.
