Child-friendly Newington

“We hope to learn what works to tackle child obesity by improving the built environment and to share what we learn with others around the world. Sustrans will work closely with local people, including children, to redesign streets with their health and wellbeing in mind.”

Jessica Attard from Impact on Urban Health

Impact on Urban Health commissioned Sustrans to look at how the built environment can increase children’s physical activity and play as part of their childhood obesity programme.

Sustrans are working with the local community and Southwark Council to explore what changes can be made to the streets so that children and their families feel it’s safe enough to walk, cycle and play outside more.

“Children really are an indicator species for cities, and many of the health problems that plague modern childhoods, including obesity, breathing problems, mental health problems and even vitamin D deficiency have links with poor urban planning.”

Tim Gill, Author, childcare consultant and city planner

Sustrans conducted an urban analysis of the Newington Ward in partnership with the Council, looking at the local context including building and land use, proximity to transport links, local amenities, points of interest and schools. The number of vehicles per day and % of vehicles travelling over the speed limit on key streets in and around the area were also analysed. Through site visits Sustrans looked at the existing conditions, mapping street clutter, locations where it was difficult to cross, narrow pavements, and areas lacking play provision.

Sustrans set up a local steering group to establish the scope of the project and conduct a mapping exercise to find out more about residents’ concerns. Talking with local people helped Sustrans to understand the area and the potential problems that they can work on with them to come up with improvements to the area where they live.

The Discover phase was focused on identification of issues allowing Sustrans to understand residents’ views in relation to existing traffic, health and behavioural data. Here, Sustrans ran a series of school workshops, pop-ups, had conversations with Tenants and Resident Groups and did an area-wide mail drop which informed residents about the project and upcoming events.

Sustrans are currently in the co-design phase of this project. Sustrans are working with local residents, including children. They are talking through the issues identified in the Discover phase. Sustrans’ design team will develop solutions to the issues in collaboration with children, residents and council officers. Design ideas so far include strategies to address traffic dominance, safer crossing points, routes to greenspaces, ‘play on the way’ features on key walking routes and wayfinding.

Sustrans are also working alongside Southwark Council to ensure the Child-friendly Newington project works in conjunction with the council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood to reduce the dominance of motor traffic.

To get involved look out for workshops through your local Tenants and Residents Associations and schools or please contact Sustrans project leads directly.

Annie Miller – annie.miller@sustrans.org.uk

Ami Udeshi – ami.udeshi@sustrans.org.uk

As in other projects Sustrans have been involved with, they hope to be able to set up temporary street infrastructure to test out early proposals developed in the co-design phase. The Test phase is an interactive process where residents are able to feedback their thoughts on the designs before they are finalised by the council.

Sustrans will work with the council to install the infrastructure that is agreed on with the local community and the council. After the changes have been made to the streets, Sustrans will monitor the impact of the changes to the local area. Video monitoring will be used to look at the street space before and after the intervention has been put in place, which will help to identify whether more physical activity has been enabled.

To find out more information visit the Sustrans project page here .