Nairn High Street: Concept Path Design
Client
CONFIDENTIAL
Sector
Active Travel / Placemaking / Behaviour Change
Location
Nairn, Scotland
Planning Authority
The Highland Council
Services Provided
Study Description
Following completion of the town wide active travel masterplan in 2018 and in advance of the de-trunking of the A96, our client wished to explore the feasibility of options to reduce access to a section of High Street by non-essential motorised vehicles ideally reducing the number of loading and service delivery vehicles also. The project sought to investigate the developability of option 16 from the masterplan that promoted the concept of active travel, walking and cycling improvement on the eastern end of the High Street, known as the Brae.
Working with multiple stakeholders, we examined options to manage access to High Street for only essential motorised vehicles including servicing and loading in support of walking and cycle modes and creation of space and promotion of local business operation.
Our approach considered public consultation and engagement and a STAG based options appraisal to demonstrate transparency and objectivity in the option selection process. Unfortunately, due to national changes affecting project funding the stage 2 budget for the study was unavailable and the project has been paused indefinitely.
Our Approach
Faced with a very limited project budget, we worked with our client to promote and support access and application to national funding offered via the Sustrans Places for Everyone (PfE) grants programme. The application was successful and the project was enrolled in the grants programme which then provided a framework for assessment and delivery.
The route had been subject to previous investigation over a number of years noting the location of the A96 trunk road and limited route corridor widths to be key limiting design factors. However, with time comes changes in staff and change in strategic positioning, creating opportunity to revisit projects.
Key Successes
• Working with client to explain process, options available within a very limited project budget.
• Identification, promotion and application / award to the Sustrans PfE programme to provide the essential budgets and assessment framework to support project investigation.
• Development of one-way operation that aligns with the other ambitions of the town’s masterplan and would enable appropriate use of limited corridor width.
• Successful conclusion of the stage 1 of the project including well attended public consultation.