THE NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT
THE NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT
The main concern of this case study is the visual impact of the proposed tram and its infrastructure on the streets and squares of Nottingham. This is only a small section of the environmental analysis undertaken as part of the design of the system.
The Nottingham Express Transit (NET) system is designed to provide a key contribution towards the future public transport needs of Greater Nottingham. The first line of NET is currently under construction and is part of an integrated transport system which links public transport services and the national rail network with tram and bus routes. The first line of the NET will be completed by November 2003 and will be serviced by 15 trams. Figure 7.14 shows the position of Line One, which is under construction, while Figure 7.15 shows the
position of the proposed future routes.
Figure 7.13 The Lowry Centre, Salford
The main reason for investment in the express
port options, where dependence upon the private
transit for Nottingham is the expected growth in the
motorcar is not so overwhelming.
number of cars using city roads. Every year the city
Elsewhere in Britain, and the rest of mainland
roads get a little more congested. This congestion, it
Europe, new tram systems have helped to regenerate
is thought, will eventually stifle the city’s vibrant
the economy of urban areas, through which they
economy from growing further. The vehicles
pass. This was an important consideration in deter-
congesting Nottingham’s roads also cause pollution,
mining the route chosen for Line One of the project
which can damage the health of the people of
in Nottingham, which runs from Hucknall through
Nottingham and harm the city’s environment.
Bulwell, Baseford and Hyson Green to the city centre,
Providing a first class public transport service that is
with a branch to the M1 motorway. These are some
integrated into the life of the city together with
of the most run-down areas in the city, including
other forms of transport, including cycling and
former coalfields: they should benefit from new
walking, tackles the twin problems of congestion
businesses and people relocating to areas close to the
and pollution by reducing the number of vehicles
new public transport service. Therefore, in addition
on the road. It also gives people a choice of trans-
to an estimated reduction of 2 million car journeys in
Figure 7.14 Nottingham, NET Line One, central area
the city every year, Line One of the NET should
Assessment Process, a technique dealt with more
boost run-down local economies because of this
fully in Urban Design: Method and Technique. 25
better link with the growing and stronger economy
Environmental Assessment is a procedure for evalu-
of the city. 24 It should also bring back life to the
ating the environmental impacts of major projects.
public realm in the areas through which it runs,
Analysis of the project’s characteristics and their
which will mean more vibrant streets and squares.
impact on the existing environment provides the
The project was the subject of an Environmental
basis for the evaluation.
Figure 7.15 Nottingham, NET future extension
The full visual impact, however, of the tram on
the different sections of Line One in Nottingham: it
the streets and squares of Nottingham can only be
shows, under the heading ‘Visual
judged when the Express transit has been installed
Intrusion/Landscape’, that the tram system will have
and is fully working. Figure 7.16a/b is a summary of
moderately positive results in four of the seven
the expected environmental impact of the tram on
sections of the line; one section where the benefits
Figure 7.16 Nottingham, NET environmental impacts
(a)
(b)
Figure 7.17 Tram. Christchurch, New Zealand
and drawbacks cancel each other out, and two
are currently running, is probably the best way to
sections where there are environmental disadvan-
get some idea of the probable result in Nottingham
tages. In Baseford, for example, there is concern
(Figures 7.17–7.20).
about the visual quality of the replacement
There is little doubt that the introduction of
footbridges, while in Bulwell there is concern over
new forms of transport running on the streets in
the effect on a nature reserve and the loss of
the city centre will transform the look of
amenity for a number of families living close to the
Nottingham. This is not a minor adjustment in the
track. In both cases, mitigation in the form of
urban scene. The presence of such a vehicle in
additional security to prevent vandalism and tree
Market Square, for example, will bring life right
planting for screening have been suggested. 26 Going
into the heart of the city. If it mirrors similar
beyond the bland statements in the Environmental
developments in France, it can only improve the
Assessment, requires a leap of imagination and an
image of the city. The development of the infras-
attempt to try to recapture the excitement of the
tructure for the tram is to be accompanied by new
vision that lies behind this expensive but necessary
landscaping of pavements, new road surface
project. A study of the effect of the trams in
materials, some bold street furniture and facilities
Manchester, Sheffield or in other cities where they
for cyclists and pedestrians.
Figure 7.18 The Tram Museum, Derbyshire Figure 7.19 The Tram Museum, Derbyshire Figure 7.20 Tram in Amsterdam
The tram is an urbane solution to transport
10 Ibid
problems in the city: its size and scale is compatible
11 Holdren, J.P. Energy: asking the wrong question. Scientific
with the street scene. Where the modern tram is
American, January 2002, pp. 63-65
operating, it has a positive effect upon the townscape, often associated with a European-style 12 Schneider, S. Global warming: neglecting the complexities.
café culture. The tram will replace a litter of untidy In Scientific American, January 2002, pp. 60-62 parked cars that degrade the townscape in many city
13 World Commission on Environment and Development, Our
squares and streets. The resulting pedestrian-friendly
Common Future: The Brundtland Report, Oxford University
and pollution-free environment is ideal for better
Press, Oxford, 1987
appreciation of the streets and squares that adorn
14 Elkin, T. et al., Reviving the City, Friends of the Earth,
our cities. The installation of the Express Transit
London, 1991
System as part of a wider and integrated network of
15 Ibid
public transport is a move in the direction of a more sustainable city of environmental quality.
16 Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions,
Towards an Urban Renaissance: Final Report of the Urban Task Force Chaired by Lord Rogers of Riverside,
NOTES
DETR, London, 1999 17 Ibid
1 Moughtin, J.C. Urban Design: Green Dimensions,
18 Ibid
Architectural Press, Oxford, 1996
19 Sitte, C. Der Stadte-Bau, Carl Graeser and Co, Wien, 1901
2 Ibid
20 Walmsley, D. and Perrett, K. The Effects of Rapid Transit
3 Lomberg, B. The Skeptical Environmentalist, University of
on Public Transport and Urban Development, HMSO,
Cambridge Press, Cambridge, 2001
London, 1992
4 Science Defends itself Against the Skeptical Environmentalist,
21 Hall, P. and Hass-Klau, C. Can Rail Save the City? Gower,
Scientific American, January 2002
Vermont, 1985
5 Department of Transport, Local Government and the
22 Wiebenson, D. Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle, Studio
Regions, Planning Green Paper, Planning: Delivering a
Vista, London, undated
Fundamental Change, DTLR, 2002. See also Planning, 22
23 Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Express Transit,
March 2002
Construction Countdown, NCC, Nottingham, 2001
6 Moughtin, J.C. op cit
24 Mott MacDonald, Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit
7 Meadows, D.H. et al., Beyond the Limits, Earthscan, London,
Project, Environmental Statement in Support of the Bill,
Mott MacDonald, Croydon, 1991
8 See Voltaire, Candide or Optimism, (trans Doctor Ralph),
25 Moughtin, J.C. et al., Urban Design; Method and Technique,
Penguin, Harmondsworth
Architectural Press, Oxford, 1999
9 Bongaarts, J. Population, ignoring its impact. Scientific
26 Mott MacDonald, Op cit
American, January 2002, pp. 65-67
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