Design quality streets and accessways Print

Design Outcome


​​Design Checklist​

  1. The design of the parking and vehicle access is integrated into the overall design of the terraced housing development 
  2. Cars do not visually dominate the street, accessway or front door entrance to the house
  3. Parking within accessways and streets incorporates landscape planting between and around bays 
  4. The location and arrangement of vehicle access design has strengthened the preferred housing pattern of public fronts and private backs​
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Regulatory Note
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Regulatory Note

Regulatory Note

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​​​​​​Many households have multiple cars, and conflict​​ can arise between the desire to provide each individual with a parking space and creating a safe, attractive and active public realm. Therefore the range of outcomes described above need to be addressed 'in the round' to achieve high quality residential developments.

Parking and access can have a huge impact on the way a development looks and works, and the design for parking on a terraced housing development depends on a good relationship between home and external environments.​​​​

Better Design Practice

  • Prioritise the placement and orientation of houses and private open spaces over parking areas, and aim to minimise car manoeuvring areas wherever possible. 
  • Double-width garages fronting the street or shared accessway should be avoided. Any garages should be single-width (this could include stacking cars in front of one another where required) to reduce the dominance of garage doors. 
  • Create a clearly visible front door and locate a habitable room at the ground level of each terraced house that fronts the street or shared accessway. 
  • Create a safe and accessible pathway, free from vehicles, between the street and front door. 
  • Co-ordinate the design and material selection for garage doors with the overall design of the house.

  • Fronts should face fronts and backs should face backs to signal what is the public realm and what is private. 
  • The front door and street elevation should address and overlook the public realm, while the back of the terrace which may be entirely private or semi-private should provide space for services, including the back door and utility areas. 
  • The design and location of the car parking in conjunction with the building design should reinforce this principle
  • Where parking is provided in a rear courtyard or in a garage accessed from a rear lane a decision must be made whether this courtyard or lane is in the public or private realm. If it is to be public, the space must have proper surveillance and activation, and be a safe and attractive environment for people to occupy. If the courtyard or rear lane is private it should be secure (gated), and/or the design must make it clear that the space is for exclusive use by the residents to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

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