Ben Hamilton-Baillie
4th July 1955 – 3rd March 2019
This website is dedicated to the memory of a pioneering architect and street designer.
Read Ben Hamilton-Baillie’s Obituary
Creating slower, safer streets.
This handbook introduces best practice and guidance for parish councils preparing neighbourhood plans and for residents wishing to tackle the impact of traffic and speed in rural areas. Download the handbook now.
We bring creativity and innovative design, backed by extensive knowledge and experience, to reduce the impact of traffic in towns and villages.
We provide particular expertise in street design and placemaking to foster lower speeds and improve safety, congestion and access. Particular experience in high street design principles, and of working with rural communities to address traffic issues in smaller towns and villages.
Clients include parish councils, highway authorities, developers, community groups and design teams in architecture, urban and landscape design, planning, regeneration, transport and traffic engineering.
Why it matters
When streets become highways, public life disappears. Spaces designed just for fast traffic no longer support everyday activities and interactions. The local trade declines, town centres become less attractive and safe. Barriers are created and communities suffer.
This need not happen. Streets designed as places and not as highways can restore the balance between traffic and public life. Public space can be preserved and restored without creating more congestion, or diverting traffic. Slow, steady traffic flows can minimize delays, and allow pedestrians and cyclists to be safer and more confident. But this needs a different approach to street design from conventional highway engineering.
That’s what we aim for. Towns and villages where people and life come first. Where traffic is part of the life of a community, and not its enemy. Towns that benefit from movement, instead of suffering from traffic. Places where children, older people and those with disabilities are treated with respect. Streets where drivers feel part of their surroundings. Spaces where civility is restored.