Description/Context

The case study area of Chippendale, to the south west of the Sydney CBD, is a mixed use precinct set on a grid street pattern in the area bound by Broadway, Cleveland and Abercrombie Streets, and City Road. Originally a working class terrace housing suburb interspersed with factories and warehouses, it has recently undergone a period of urban renewal, with many city office workers moving into the area. As well as the traditional terrace housing, warehouse conversions and new unit development have transformed the area.

The management of the public domain has enhanced the districts neighbourhood characteristics and sense of community. Public domain improvements that have been delivered in increments over time, include road closures and traffic calming measures, footpath extensions and paving, planting and landscaping. These have created better quality public open space and greatly improved safety, convenience and amenity for pedestrians and cyclists.

Road closures and footpath extensions are used to create more public open space, deter through and fast travelling traffic, and establish car-free short-cuts for pedestrians and cyclists. Attention to detail on footpath paving and extensions promote the heritage of the area. Trees and planting, including garden beds maintained by residents, provide a sense of ownership and pleasant environment for walking around. Conventional traffic management, or traffic calming techniques are also used to aid safety. By thwarting traffic short-cuts and speeding vehicles, these features reduce traffic volumes to levels that encourage pedestrians and cyclists to use the area.

Integrated planning measures have placed restrictions on the amount of off-street car parking that can be provided with new developments. There is also relatively low demand for off-street parking as Chippendale is very well serviced by buses, trains are a relatively short walk away and the surrounding shopping centres and institutions provide parking. This restriction on parking means that more people walk or cycle to local destinations or catch public transport. An attractive and pedestrian-friendly built environment is a necessary inter-dependent complement to these kinds of restrictions.