Urban design, planning and high-street revitalisation

Cities are undergoing major transformations due to the pandemic, hybrid work models, and climate change. This has sparked renewed interest in reimagining high-streets, which face challenges in attracting and retaining visitors, partly because of the expansion of out-of-city retail malls (Pow, 2012; Schlesinger, 2019). This is in response to evidence demonstrating that well-designed high-streets can fulfil “human functions of territoriality, window shopping and socialisation” (Mehta and Bosson, 2009), while suburban neighbourhoods built around a central high-street have a greater sense of community (Pendola & Gen, 2008). Hence, (re)designing accessible and high-quality (e.g., pedestrian-friendly, safe, vibrant) suburban high-streets where residents can access essential destinations within 15/20 minutes (on foot or by bicycle) of their homes can support the improvement of residents physical and mental health (Weng et al., 2019). Despite the recognisable significance of the high-street as a key element for a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable neighbourhood, evidence on how to improve the accessibility and quality of the suburban high-street is lacking.

This study aims to address these gaps by identifying the specific macro and micro-level characteristics of suburban high-streets that can help revitalise these detreating streets. Accordingly, it examines three distinct high-streets in the suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, selected for their inclusion in the Council’s Investment Plan. Objective data was collected through a combination of desk-based research (i.e., space syntax modelling, GIS-based analysis) and in-depth field surveys documenting the micro-scale street-level characteristics (i.e., ground-floor land-uses, presence of greenery/trees, the width of footpaths, etc.). The objective data was then complemented by an online questionnaire capturing users’ perceptions of each high-street in terms of perceived safety, comfort, and accessibility. The objective and subjective data were then synthesised to identify urban design enablers and barriers to suburban high-street usage and revitalisation. The findings indicate that improved accessibility of the high-street from its surrounding context (15-minute walking distance) as well as increased land-use diversity and greenery on the high-street are key design interventions required to elevate users’ perceptions and thus their use of these public spaces.

Aside from theoretical contributions, the findings of this study hold significant implications for urban design/planning practice and policy. Documenting the existing conditions of our suburban high-streets and identifying the design characteristics that encourage or hinder residents’ access and use of them could assist practitioners and policymakers in developing targeted interventions to promote inclusive, vibrant, and healthy local high-streets.
Learning Objectives

To provide evidence and guidance to policymakers regarding improving the walkability and human-friendly characteristics of suburban high streets.
To understand a correlation between the emotional perceptions of the high street environment and the macro- and micro-scale factors.
To uncover what is, and is not, desirable within the high street environment and what frequent users believe should be done to improve it.