Air pollution Archives - Planning Design Ltd

Sheffield- the UK’s Latest Smart City

26th February 2020 by Gary Stringer

The future is now, as Sheffield City Council, together with the city’s highways contractor, Amey are utilising cutting edge Internet of Things (IoT) technology to create the UK’s latest Smart City, starting with digitised roads.

Working on behalf of the council, Amey is positioning Sheffield front and centre of innovative Smart City technology in order to deliver a more efficient highways service for residents of and visitors to the Steel City via a platform provided by Smart City operator, Connexin. Work is already well underway, and by this spring, Amey will have created a digitised public highway network involving thousands of individual wireless sensors communicating across the city from Attercliffe to Woodseats.

With these smart sensors embedded in objects such as litter bins and drains, these everyday objects will be able to send and receive data via an Internet of Things (IoT) platform, digitally connecting essential highway maintenance services and informing operatives about the condition of street assets in real time. The aim is that Amey’s maintenance managers will always be one step ahead, knowing when street bins need to be emptied before they overflow, when trees need watering and when gullies need clearing in order to reduce the risk of flash flooding, to name just a few practical examples.

Cabinet member for Environment, Street Scene and Climate Change at Sheffield City Council, Councillor Mark Jones said:

“This is very much about us working better and smarter towards a greener and cleaner future for Sheffield.

“By investing in this new initiative, our contractors will be undertaking fewer journeys, which in turn will result in a reduction in energy consumption, pollution and congestion, whilst ensuring our streets are kept clean and our bins are emptied using a more efficient and effective approach.”

As Councillor Jones stresses, people living, working and visiting Sheffield will benefit from a better quality of life with cleaner and safer living conditions and improved maintenance services, delivered in a more efficient, sustainable manner, contributing to the city’s Clean Air Strategy.

As we’ve written about previously, the City Council have implemented The Sheffield Green City Strategy, with the intention of reducing the city’s impact on the climate by becoming a zero-carbon city by 2050. Whilst Sheffield is a green city both in its urban centre and its surrounding landscape, polluted air is a major drain on its economy, with the cost currently estimated at around £200m every year, seriously impacting on economic growth and people’s health.

This pioneering use of technology together with the city’s Clean Air Zone coming into effect in early 2021, will all help to lower emissions, creating a city with transportation systems that are efficient and affordable, as well as reliable and clean.

Click HERE to see a video showing Sheffield street’s high tech overhaul.

Housing Developments – Still Dominated by the Car?

7th February 20205th February 2020 by Gary Stringer

Yes they are; a report issued last week by University College London says that too many highway engineers are supporting road designs that do not fully take into account pedestrians and cyclists. In addition the location of some new housing, their lack of character, poor access to high quality green space and availability of access to public transport means that not all new housing developments could be considered to represent sustainable development.

The report comes at a time when 76% of people polled by the Government think that for the sake of the environment that everyone should reduce the amount they drive. This is up from 63% only 2 years ago. There is a growing awareness not only about climate change but also air pollution and the importance of clean air to health. A number of schools are banning parents from parking outside the school gates on grounds of air quality and safety.

The dominance of the car in housing layouts is a difficult issue. For many home buyers, space to park a car is an important consideration. While many people are trying to use their cars less, a car next to the home that they can use whenever they want provides a powerful sense of security.

Off road parking is not essential and there are many examples where residents in older often affluent areas are limited to on street parking only. In town centre locations, and those sites with good access to public transport and local amenities lower parking standards can be and should be introduced.

On sites that are primarily accessed by car one approach would be to reduce levels of car parking by giving each property a dedicated parking space close to the home. This would provide the security many want. Second cars and visitor parking would be accommodated in communal parking areas located close to residents. On street parking unless within dedicated on-street parking spaces should be removed through good estate design. This in itself will make access for pedestrians and cyclists easier, particularly for children by preventing cars from being parked on pavements. Layouts should give priority for walking and cycling with easy access for pedestrians and cyclists to the wider area particularly in providing access to schools shops and community facilities. In areas of growth, this network of footpaths and cycle paths could be used as the main means to connect to District centres providing residents with better alternatives than using the car.

Maximum parking standards should be re-introduced and a council should not be able to refuse planning permission on the grounds of a lack of parking. Less parking means more space for other purposes and with an investment in public transport, and support for people to walk and cycle; the health of the general population will improve and the costs to society will decrease.

Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

(Image: Google Maps)

Sheffield – The Green City Strategy

10th May 202121st January 2020 by Gary Stringer

The Sheffield Green City Strategy aims to reduce the city’s impact on the climate by becoming a zero-carbon city by 2050. The UK has already reduced emissions by around 44 per cent since 1990 and the net zero 2050 pledge is likely to lead to more investment and innovation in renewable energies.

Sheffield is a green city both in its urban core and its surrounding landscape and this is part of its attractiveness and distinctiveness. However, polluted air is a major drain on Sheffield’s economy, currently costing around £200m every year, impacting on economic growth and people’s health.

Sheffield City Council plan to introduce the Clean Air Zone in early 2021, which will contribute to the Green City Strategy. The aim is to create a city with transportation systems that are efficient and affordable, reliable and clean, simple and intuitive, networked and integrated, and low-emission.

The highest number of polluting vehicles’ are buses, HGVs and taxis which are responsible for half of Sheffield’s air pollution but only make up 20% of traffic. As a result the Clean Air Zone will introduce the following charges if they enter designated zones:

£10 per day for polluting LGVs and Taxis
£50 per day for coaches, buses and HGVs

Taxis, buses and HGV’s can avoid these charges if they meet the following criteria:

Taxis which are ultra-low emissions (hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell) or Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
LGVs and Minibuses with Euro 6 Diesel or Euro 4 Petrol
Buses and Coaches with Euro 6 Diesel
HGVs with Euro 6 Diesel

The system currently proposes not to charge private cars for entering the city centre. Private cars make up 80% of road traffic, and contribute 50% of the pollution. The strategy seeks to improve air quality by tackling the heaviest polluting vehicles. However the system will encourage the use of the private motor vehicle.

As a result it appears that strategy is trying to tackle the sources of pollution instead of creating a city where people choose public transport and active travel more often, thereby reducing emissions, improving people’s health and making the city easier to move around (reducing congestion).

A city with clean air, an efficient public transport system, high levels of active travel and healthier citizens will have a stronger, fairer economy. The government have provided funding for around £50 million to help those people whose livelihoods depend on a van or a taxi, allowing them to take out an interest free loan. This support will be used to upgrade or replace their old, polluting vehicles.

The main question that arises is why the funding for the strategy is not being invested in improving the road networks to make public transport more accessible, and discouraging the use of private motor vehicle as congestion will continue to remain unless all vehicles that fail to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Zone will be charged.

With an office at The Workstation we have a close connection with Sheffield with numerous clients and projects in the region. Please get in touch for advice on any planning issues or potential projects.

Sheffield- the UK’s Latest Smart City

Housing Developments – Still Dominated by the Car?

Sheffield – The Green City Strategy

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