Highways Agency
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Highways Agency publishes new guidance to assess impact of transport schemes on historic landscapes
PROTECTING HISTORIC LANDSCAPES
The Highways Agency has published new guidance, in the latest version of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, to help highway engineers, planners and environmental specialists to assess the impact of transport schemes on historic landscapes throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The new guidance is the first published advice of its kind for England and follows the publication in March 07 of more detailed supporting guidance, 'Assessing the effects of road schemes on historic landscape character'.
The new guidance has been developed by the Highways Agency, in collaboration with other landscape and cultural heritage government and non -government bodies. It provides advice on the assessment of historic landscape character and the effects of road schemes using the analysis of topography, archaeological remains, historic buildings and the natural world.
The new guidance will help scheme designers to prepare more sensitive designs that integrate better with the environment and reduce the impact of road schemes on sites of historic interest.
Antonia Glyde, of the Highways Agency Environmental and Sustainable Development group, said:
"We are confident the new guidance will help us meet our objectives for cultural heritage and ensure the historic fabric of the landscape is respected."
The Highways Agency and English Heritage today hosted a conference, attended by local authority planners, highways authorities, cultural heritage curators, archaeologists, landscape architects, transport engineers and developers.
The conference considered the policy background to the guidance and discussed and explored the new methodologies for assessing the impact of transport schemes on historic landscapes. The conference highlighted case studies where historic landscapes have been considered in the design of new road improvement schemes.
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Vol 11, Sec 3, Part 2 - Cultural Heritage Assessment, was published by the Department for Transport in August and is available on the Highways Agency website: (DMRB11 Cultural heritage.)
3. Hard copies of 'Assessing the effect of road schemes on historic landscape character', are available from the Highways Agency tel 08457504030 or on the English Heritage website: (Historic Landscape Guidance).
4. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk. To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
5. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
6. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)
Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.
