Street Redesign Fires Residents' Imaginations

A project to redesign two residential streets has sparked the imagination of local residents.

Sixteen applications – five from primary schools – have been received to NPDC’s Street Project, which aims to transform two streets so that people take precedence over cars.

“The response has been amazing,” says Let’s Go Project Coordinator Carl Whittleston.

“For each of these entries, neighbours have got together to discuss what they like about their street and what could be changed to improve it, and come up with ideas so that children, pedestrians and cyclists can reclaim the street outside their homes.

“Their passion for their projects has come through loud and clear. They want more meeting areas and people places on their streets – they see this project has being really important for building their community and they’ve all put a lot of effort into their applications.”

The Council will select two sites for the makeover: One residential street and one street with a school on it.

A decision on the selected streets will be made by the end of the month.

The residents on the selected streets will work with a team of experts through planning and design workshops to redesign their street from berm to berm, and then see it transformed. The residents will also be required to ‘do their bit’ to reclaim their street through a range of activities, says Mr Whittleston.

“This has been a great opportunity for residents to turn back time to when kids could play and bike all over the road, and neighbours knew each other.

“Even those residents whose applications aren’t selected should be proud that they worked together with their neighbours and really got thinking about the type of neighbourhood they’d like to have,” he says.