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What is Urban Design?

The art of making places - urban design involves the design and placement of buildings, roads, open spaces, towns and cities, to create a desirable place in which to live, work and play. It is concerned with the relationship between built form, land use, open space, natural features and human activity.

Good urban design is about creating a place that functions well, has a distinctive identity and visual appeal.

Aspects of urban design

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What does Urban Design mean to Transit?

Transit is committed to planning for, developing and promoting quality urban design as a signatory to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol. The challenge for Transit is to incorporate urban design into all aspects of its business from inception through to the maintenance phases of a project, in order to ensure a context sensitive approach in a cost effective manner.

Urban design in Transit is aimed at ensuring that:

• Roads fit in sensitively with the landform and the built, natural and community environments through which they pass;
• All systems of movement along and across the corridor are integrated into the design of projects with good connections and access to communities; and
• The design contributes to the quality of public space and the road users experience.

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What's New?

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Urban Design Champions

In March 2005 Transit became an early signatory to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol (the "Protocol"). The Protocol is a central government programme addressing how good urban design can better contribute to the development of New Zealand towns and cities. It is intended to be a national cross-sector commitment to achieving good urban design in New Zealand.

As part of the Protocol, Transit has appointed two urban design champions:

Wayne McDonald, General Manager Transport Planning

 

Wayne McDonald, General Manager Transport Planning

"Transit's urban design initiatives have long-term goals that are aimed at contributing to and shaping more liveable communities".

Colin Crampton, General Manager Capital Projects

 

Colin Crampton, General Manager Capital Projects

"There is a need to close the gaps between policy and practice so that quality urban design can be delivered throughout Transit projects, network operations and transport planning".

 

 

 

Their role is to influence change and to promote Transit's commitment to the Protocol.

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Transit Urban Design Policy

The Transit Board has approved Transit's Urban Design Policy which sits in Transit's Planning Policy Manual. The policy will guide Transit in implementing urban design and is consistent with Transit's commitment to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol and the broader concept of sustainable transportation.

Transit's Urban Design Policy replaces the former Urban Design Implementation Principles.

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Urban Design Team

The purpose of the urban design team is to:

• Provide urban design advice;
• Review and support projects, to ensure urban design is effectively implemented;
• Encourage early and collaborative urban design;
• Educate and stimulate discussion around urban design practice and implementation; and
• Review and revise Transit policies and procedures to support urban design.

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Urban Design Register

To assist Transit project managers, a register of urban design consultants has been identified by Transit's Urban Design Team.

For further information on any of the urban designers identified in the register, please contact the urban design team for a copy of their full profile.

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Contact Us

For further information please contact the Urban Design Team:

Phone: Jacque Bell on 04-894-6423

Email: urbandesign@nzta.govt.nz.

Related Links

• 

  Ministry for the Environment
  The Ministry for the Environment established an Urban Group to support the Minister's responsibility for Urban Affairs and to provide central government leadership on urban issues.

  Visit website
• 

  Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW
  The RTA is committed to achieving good urban design outcomes from all infrastructure projects for which it is responsible.

  Visit website
• 

  Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
  The government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. Visit website

• Context Sensitive Solutions - Projects and Case Studies
  An online resource centre for urban design solutions on transport projects.

  View website

 

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