public realm

Increasingly, there are proposals from organisations, broadcasters and commercial companies to install large digital screens in towns and cities for a variety of purposes. This guidance has been prepared jointly by English Heritage and CABE to help local authorities in the consideration of planning applications for large digital screens in public places. Big screens will be a key part of the Live Sites programme for the London 2012 Olympic the Paralympic Games, installed by the organising committee, LOCOG, which has been consulted in the preparation of this document.

A survey commissioned by Play England for Playday, an initiative designed to celebrate the right of children to play outside, highlights that children want and need to play in their local streets.

The research undertaken for this report across six different neighbourhoods suggests that the government’s ambitions to improve the wellbeing of children, and its aim to create sustainable communities, will fall short unless the needs of children and young people in their everyday environment are taken seriously by all those designing, delivering and managing the public realm.

This guide provides examples of initiatives councillors can take to create quality public places. It reflects the new powers and responsibilities councilors have and supports them in taking effective action on cleaner, safer, greener and quality of life issues.

It will be of particular interest to executive councillors who are responsible for creating and maintaining a quality public realm. However, the information will also be relevant to a wider audience of practitioners concerned with improving places.