5 Furniture

5.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The main considerations are identified under the different items

of street furniture below. Summary issues include:

Choose street furniture to relate to its location and local

distinctiveness, and reinforce a sense of place
Different items of street furniture should relate to each other
in terms of design, siting and colour
Avoid causing clutter
Reduce to a minimum ‘defensive’ street furniture such as
railings and bollards
Retain and refurbish distinctive historic elements of street
furniture.

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5 . 2 S E AT I N G

Design & general principles

Different types of designs are recommended for differing areas to
reinforce the individual character of these areas, although the aim
is for a limited range of seats to strengthen the visual character
of the borough and coordinate public space furniture.The designs
chosen are periodically subject to change, because occasionally
products are no longer made or improved products may be
made available. Occasionally there is the opportunity for a one-
off design and old distinctive seating should be retained where
possible.

Detail
Seating should normally include armrests and backs to assist the
elderly. Central armrests should be considered where sleeping
on benches is likely to be a problem. Steel seating is sometimes
used in circular or curved form where space allows.

Siting
The following considerations need to be taken into account: Festival for town centres

Avoid causing obstruction to main lines of movement

Consider any possible security implications for adjoining
property
Avoid very isolated seating, or seating where there is a poor
view of those approaching
Avoid locations likely to be used for the consumption of
alcohol
Consider the views. Is there an interesting/attractive outlook?
Is a seat needed as an incidental stop or a likely waiting area?
Sunny positions are generally preferable but shaded seating Festival with wood slats
is also needed in summer. If seating is proposed under trees,
check that the tree is suitable
Relate to other items of street furniture if appropriate
Avoid siting near sources of pollution where possible
Provide a space near a seat where wheelchairs can be
positioned.

Kensington

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Commemorative seating
A procedure is in place through the Parks section. More detail is
available through the website.

Types
Steel
Festival – for town and local centres as well as more urban
locations. Includes wood slats (less urban) and curved variations.

Timber and Steel

Factory – for key town centre locations and urban riverside areas.

Timber
Kensington – for parks and open space, less urban riverside areas
and other general locations.

Factory for town centres
Other
Special designs have been used on the riverside, such as at
Champion’s Wharf Twickenham and elsewhere, such as Elmfield
House in Teddington. There will occasionally be a case for
something different.

The refurbishment of existing old seats should also be

considered, including timber backless benches on iron legs in
some rural locations.

Maintenance
Wash annually. Restain timber/maintain paintwork every five years.

Cross references
Riverscape
Festival for town centres Greenscape
Conservation
UDP policies.

Champions Wharf

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Signage Urban Signage Rural

Blackpool Plastic bollards

tend to look cheap
5.3 BOLLARDS

Design & general principles

Bollards are mainly used to restrict vehicle movement on
pedestrian areas such as footways and parks access paths
(lockable). Occasionally they are used for waymarking or cycle lane
signage, avoiding the need for tall posts. The general principles are
to use them as sparingly as possible and select a design most
appropriate for their setting. The two alternative materials are cast
iron (or polymer composite type which looks like cast iron) and
timber. There are a number of locations with distinctive cast
bollards in the borough which should be treated as an asset to be
retained and refurbished.

Design & siting problems

Too many bollards leading to ‘bollard park’ appearance
Choice of wrong bollard for the location
Plastic bollards tend to look cheap.

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Manchester Spherical cast

Too many bollards

Guidelines
Consider white strips where appropriate
Restrict use of bollards to a minimum
Relate style of bollard to its location – see general guidance below
Restrict choice of bollard to list below. Plastic bollards are not to
be used for permanent schemes
Retain distinctive old bollards and refurbish. Consider additional
ones where necessary in the same style by having a mould made
Consider where possible using tree planting or other items of
street furniture to reduce need for and number of bollards
It may be necessary to reconsider the design concept if there
is a need for a large number of bollards
Consider reinforced slabs and stronger paved areas to reduce
the need for bollards
Siting – should be positioned to the front of the footway to limit
obstruction
Allow 450mm clear space from the front edge of the kerb
Consider opportunities for fixing signs and waymarks to bollards
to avoid use of additional posts.

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Colour
a) Cast type – See general guidelines on colour (p10)
Richmond area and some other locations – black. Also dark
grey is being trialed as a slightly softer alternative
Twickenham town centre – dark blue/grey BS18B29
Richmond Green and selected riverside locations – White
Elsewhere – dark green BS14C40.

b) Timber type – normally leave in natural finish that will

weather to grey

Types
Manchester cast – urban locations/town centres
Blackpool/ Bury cast – urban locations/town centres
Timber – less urban locations/riverside/residential areas
Other – thin steel with cast casing: an alternative where space
is very restricted
Spherical cast – has been used in Richmond town centre.
Feature areas: can be useful to avoid runs of vertical bollards.

Historic bollards – examples of locations with

historic pattern bollards
Richmond Green
Kew Foot Road
Cholmondeley Walk & other riverside locations
Buccleugh Gardens.

Signage bollards
Urban (cast type)
Rural (timber type).

Removable/drop down Buccleugh Gardens Cholmondeley Walk

Cast or timber.

Maintenance
Wash annually. Repaint painted types every five years.

Richmond Green Timber

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5.4 RAILINGS

Design & general principles

There is a key distinction between decorative and functional railings.
Decorative railings are an important feature of the townscape and
are most usually on private land as boundary treatment. Functional
railings such as guardrailing are usually installed on public land to
restrict vehicle access and for safety reasons, their effect can often be
less than positive on the street scene. The general principle is to
reduce the need for guardrailing and similar features as far as possible.

Problems
Loss of original railings
Overuse of guardrailing
Choice of railing unsuited to location
Unpainted guardrailing looks ugly
Painting problems – preparation/durability/colour
‘Dogleg’ crossings penned in by railings are very detrimental
to the feel of an area and give undue prominence to vehicular
traffic. They should be avoided where at all possible.

Guidelines
Restrict extent of railing as far as possible
Type of railing to be related to location
Use an appropriate primer and durable painted finish if metal.

Colour
See general guidelines on colour (p10). Use dark green BS14C40,
except in Richmond Town Centre where black is used and
Twickenham Town Centre where BS18B29 dark blue/grey is used.
There are occasional exceptions usually by listed buildings where
Harrington OKR black would be more appropriate than another colour.

Timber
Generally natural but occasionally white stain works well. A dark
colour is usually best for historic railings.

Guardrailing
Harrington
Town centres and urban areas, eg.Twickenham and East Sheen
town centres.

Manchester Visirail

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Steel rail

Timber post and rail Timber post and rail

OKR
Less urban and more sensitive areas, eg. Church Street, Barnes.

Manchester
Richmond town centre.

Visirail (Standard steel guardrailing)

In less sensitive urban locations.

Boundary Railing
Standard steel park railing bounding open areas
Secure boundary to open areas but allowing views through, eg.
Rocks Lane, Barnes; Buccleugh Gardens, Richmond. Consider
Health and Safety aspect of uprights, particularly under trees.

Timber post and rail

Boundary to green areas where required, eg. Barnes Pond.

Low timber post and rail

Economic low boundary in landscape/less urban areas.

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Timber post and metal rail

Hurdle rail Low metal rail

Hurdle/Bowtop
To protect planted areas, eg. Elmfield House,Teddington.

Low metal rail- Anglesey

Low rail in more urban areas, eg. Hill Rise, Richmond.

Riverside-Harbour 2 rail
Where riverside railings are needed there may be a local
established style, possibly historic, where restoration/ replication
should be considered
Harbour railing is also a good simple design, eg. Mortlake towpath.

Historic railings
Historic railings should be retained and restored where possible.
There are occasionally opportunities to install new railings in
a historic pattern, eg. Holly Road Garden of Rest,Twickenham
A dark colour usually works best. A light blue-green has been
used on riverside railings at St. Margaret’s which relates well
to the patinated bronze on Twickenham Bridge.

Maintenance
Wash annually. Restain timber/maintain paintwork every five years.

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5.5 LITTER BINS

Design & general principles

The provision of litterbins is entirely functional but can have a
considerable impact on the appearance of the street or location.
It is therefore not considered appropriate that one single style
can be used in all environments, but that there should be a
restricted range related to location.

Problems
Poor design
Poor siting/location – obstructions, spoiling views etc.
Embellishments drawing too much attention to bins
Servicing problems.

Guidelines
Some particularly isolated locations work better without bins
Bins should be chosen from agreed range
Ensure siting does not detract from riverside or other views
Relate to other street furniture
Avoid unnecessary embellishments – eg. gold bands tend to
look tawdry and clash with other street furniture
Ashtrays should not be provided although unobtrusive
cigarette stubbers may be used
Street bins, and bins on towpath/ riverside locations should
have lids.

Pierhead Timber

Big Ben Dogbin

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Types
General – Heritage type (black)
Pierhead – Twickenham (dark blue/grey BS18B29), Richmond
Riverside, Kew Station, Kew Village,Twickenham Riverside and
other key locations (black).

Parks and green spaces

Big Ben (dark green BS14C40)
A-24 (dark green BS14C40)
Dogbin (dark green BS14C40).

Maintenance
Wash annually. Repaint painted types every five years.

Heritage No gold bands/ashtrays

Poor siting

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Teddington

Vekso

5 . 6 C Y C L E S TA N D S , PA R K I N G
A N D S H E LT E R S

Design & general principles

Cycle parking is provided by shops, stations, public buildings and
similar areas
The type of stand proposed is largely standardised although
distinctive designs have been used in specific areas.

Problems
Maintenance problems of painted stands
May add to street clutter and obstruction
Redundant ‘cycle’ parking signs.

Guidelines
Consider linear cycle parking parallel to the kerb
Standardise on satin stainless steel finish
Relate to other street furniture
Can be set out in radial pattern in some schemes
Can be used to replace bollards
Allow about 1-1.2m between stands

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Sheffield

Heath Road

Look best grouped rather than in isolation

Remove remaining ‘cycle parking’ signs
Where appropriate, fix legs on slab joints
Avoid obstructing pedestrian movement.

Types
Sheffield type
Brushed/ satin stainless finish is being phased in
Painted finish is being phased out because of paint
maintenance problems.

Teddington type
Stands with a similar finish and distinctive design have been
used in the Teddington area.

Cycle Shelters
Opportunities sometimes arise in relation to station schemes
Appearance and siting important as well as function.

Vekso type – Twickenham and Richmond Station.

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5 . 7 B U S S H E LT E R S

Design & general principles

Bus shelters form an important element in the street scene and
the Council is trying to encourage the use of improved designs
over standard products where possible. London Buses has
responsibility for the type of shelter and its maintenance, but the
Council can influence decisions on the type and finish of shelters.

The recent use of Landmark shelters in Twickenham has given a

visual lift to the town centre.There is an existing Bus Stop Policy.

Problems
Mediocre design of standard shelter
Poor colours for some environments
Advertising can obscure townscape and cause security
problems
Poor siting of shelters and signage
Vandalism.

Landmark

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Guidelines
Consider local maps in relation to bus shelters
Consider timber shelters in less urban, sensitive locations
Take into account usual siting considerations for street furniture
Relate colour to the setting – urban colours tend not to work
well in less urban settings
Seek better designed shelters as widely as possible
Consider implications of advertising proposals
Particular care needed siting shelters by open spaces
Lighting must be provided for personal safety.

Types
Landmark shelter – Twickenham (and to expand to other
appropriate locations)

Heritage shelter – Richmond town centre

2000 shelter – (not being expanded)

Standard shelter – Colour considerations: colours of structure

and seat can be altered.

Heritage

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6.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Whilst the high density of traffic related and other signage may
be inevitable, there are principles from a townscape point of view
which can help to reduce visual intrusiveness.These include:

Consider whether the sign is needed at all?

Reduce the number of signs to a minimum – there are
situations where one rather than two signs can be used
Take the opportunity to rationalise signs rather than just
add to what is already there
Find out if others are planning signs in the same area
and coordinate the provision
Take the opportunity to remove any redundant signage
in the vicinity. The budget should include a percentage for this
Take account of the design of existing signs. If possible, repeat
the colour, font style and size
Minimise size of signage
Avoid new posts where new signs can be fixed to existing
posts, lamp columns and walls or boundaries
Avoid signs with yellow or other strident colours wherever
possible
Paint posts to match local street furniture
Avoid obstructing pedestrians
Avoid detracting from sensitive settings, which may include
in particular listed buildings, important views and riverside
locations
Consider lower heights for signage – low signs tend to be less
obtrusive visually, eg. for controlled parking zones. Signage on
bollards also works well
Ensure design of sign (typeface, colours, height and angle) is
carefully considered to be easliy read by people with disabilities
Use double sided signs where possible.

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6 . 2 PA R K I N G S I G N A G E

Signs, markings and associated elements to limit parking are not

always easy to integrate with the townscape and landscape.
Whilst the signs need to be legible it is most important that
they do not detract unnecessarily from their setting.The main
considerations include:

Siting
Avoid detracting from views or causing clutter
Fix in least obtrusive location possible.

Fixing
Avoid little signs on thick posts
Mount signs on existing street furniture or boundary walls
where possible.

Duplication
Avoid unnecessary duplication of signage
The removal of redundant ‘no waiting’ signs, with road
markings, is being carried out.

Yellow lines
To be 50mm width deep cream colour throughout the borough
All reinstatement works also to be in thin cream – thick yellow
to be discontinued.This also applies to kerb loading markings.

Avoid little signs Yellow lines

on big posts discontinued

Avoid obtrusive signage

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Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and other parking signage

This can result in a large amount of new signage in an area. It is
important to avoid a sea of galvanised posts to the front of the
footway which can for example, detract badly from the
appearance of residential streets. Methods that should be used
to avoid this include:

Fix signs as far as possible to existing lamp columns, posts or

boundaries (eg walls or railings)
Consider fixing signs to the back of ticket dispensers (facing road)
Where the above measures are not possible, signs should
ideally be mounted on low posts at the back of the footway
against walls or hedges, to reduce intrusiveness
All posts should be finished in a dark colour, normally black
or dark green according to area
To reduce intrusiveness. Zone entry signs should generally be
mounted on black or dark green slender single posts and the
size of the signs should be reduced to the minimum. Avoid
wherever possible having signs on both sides of the road
Consider alternatives to repeated signage where this is possible
(perhaps in conjunction with 20 mph zones)
Methods generally need to be further investigated for making
signage less intrusive
The layout of parking spaces can sometimes be modified
to allow signage to be fixed in the least intrusive way
Carriageway markings to indicate spaces should be as minimal
as possible.

Ticket machines
These should normally have a black finish, although there may
be exceptions where other colours are more appropriate. Dark
Use existing walls where possible green can be used in less urban areas.

Traffic light poles

Traffic lights poles to be in dark green in most areas of the
borough, except in specific urban areas where they are
to be black, or dark blue/grey in Twickenham
The possibility of traffic lights being combined with lighting
columns should be investigated wherever possible.

Mount signs on low

Avoid a sea of posts at the back of
galvanised posts footways

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Reduce the number Review traffic

and size of signs signage

Urban keep General keep left

left sign bollard

6 . 3 O T H E R T R A F F I C R E L AT E D
SIGNAGE

‘Keep left’ bollards – in town centres and other key locations an

uplit hooped shaped sign should be considered in place of the
usual plastic ‘keep left’ bollard.

20 mph zones – the style of signage and demarcation should

reflect the setting.White timber posts have been used to good
effect in Petersham. Consider lower 20 mph signage
heights
Flashing signs – there are many environments for which these
are not suitable.They need to be used with great care and are
best avoided in sensitive locations.

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Borough boundary sign

Civic Pride sign

6.4 BOROUGH AND LOCAL

IDENTITY SIGNAGE

Borough boundary signs – a distinctive cast sign design has been

established and these are generally used only at main entry points
to the borough.

Local area signs – apart from borough entry points,‘Welcome

to...’ signs are not normally to be provided. Local areas are to be
Local area on name plates distinguished by subtle colour and street furniture variations.
The bylaw signs for parks and open spaces are an exception. Local
area names are included wherever possible on street name plates.

Signs for parks & open spaces – a redesign of this signage is

currently in preparation.

Civic Pride signs – a small cast sign is being designed to mark

Civic Pride initiatives.

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6.5 SIGNAGE FOR PEDESTRIANS

AND CYCLISTS

Problems
By-law stickers can be intrusive
Signage provided by, or on behalf of, many different
organisations creates clutter
Signage does not always follow through to its destination
Much existing signage for those on foot is unattractive.

Guidelines
Review the use of by-law stickers
Consider complete schemes for areas
Unify different signs on one plate, particularly on the riverside
Continue replacement of brown tourist and other signs-use
signage with white lettering on a black background (cast type
where possible)
Consider improvements in the design of signage. Bronze
signage set in the ground has been used by Kew Gardens
Station and for Arcadia
Normally use white lettering on a black background.

Signs for public rights of way – white lettering on black

background, lower case. Do not include a walking man symbol.
Where there are other pedestrian signs in the area, the rights of
way signs should follow the existing pattern. Typeface, Arial Bold
120pt.

Thames Path signs – white lettering on black background.This

can be reversed or be in a cast finish to coordinate with other
signage.THAMES PATH should be in upper case.This is part of
the Thames Path national trail.Typeface, Gill Sans Bold 120pt. Obstucting views Problematic signage

Other signage for pedestrians – this includes the Community

Toilet Scheme and Capital Ring signage.The form and layout of the
signage needs to relate to that used in the locality, which is likely to
be either cast finger signs with raised lettering or plainer aluminium
signs; in both cases lettering is normally white on black background.
The provision of signage needs to be selective so that it does not
create unreasonable clutter. In the case of the Community Toilet
Scheme, an area notice or other signage may be more appropriate
than finger signs where there are multiple destinations.
Bronze signage set in the ground

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Urban signage bollard Rural signage bollard
Area scheme Traditional signage
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Other signage for pedestrians – this includes the Community Toilet
Scheme and Capital Ring signage.The form and layout of the signage
needs to relate to that used in the locality, which is likely to be either
cast fingersigns with raised lettering or plainer aluminium signs; in
both cases lettering is normally white on black background.The
provision of signage needs to be selective so that it does not create
unreasonable clutter. In the case of the Community Toilet Scheme,
an area notice or notices may be more appropriate than fingersigns
where there are multiple destinations
Cycling route signs – these are currently in white lettering
on a blue background. The colour is rather strident and it
is recommended that the colour used is reviewed.
Pedestrian/ cycle shared routes – for shared surfaces the
pedestrian symbol should be on top of the cycle symbol,
or to the relevant side if that is appropriate.
Bollard signage – signage on bollards is an effective route indicator
which avoids the visual intrusion of taller posts. The cast type works
well in urban locations and timber in less urban settings.
6.6 CCTV AND SECURITY SIGNAGE
The problems associated with the proliferation of signage have
already been referred to. Additional problems now include
requirements to sign CCTV and ‘dispersal’ areas. It is critical that
these do not spoil the environment which they are designed
to protect and that any such signing is minimal in terms of colour
and size. Large signs are completely unacceptable and the siting
and background of such signage needs to be carefully considered.
Signs should not have a yellow finish as this is particularly intrusive.
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Pictorial map

Local interpretation board

6 . 7 L O C A L M A P S A N D N OT I C E B OA R D S

Pictorial maps – these have been used in Twickenham and Kew and
it is expected to expand them to other areas.

Local notice boards – the existing boards are somewhat dated

and a new, more compact design related to the street scene
is required.

Local interpretation boards – these have been successfully used

by the Richmond Society and others to provide historical and
other information. Consultation should take place with the Council
on siting, content, design, corporate ID issues and to facilitate access
for people with disabilities.

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Historic ceramic nameplates

Blue enamel

Raised lettering

Modern street nameplate

6 . 8 S T R E E T N A M E P L AT E S

Guidelines
Historic nameplates – Older ceramic, cast iron and enamelled
plates should be retained as they are valuable townscape features.
Consideration should be given to expanding the use of such distinctive
signage, particularly where it is a characteristic of the area, for
example, the ceramic signs in the residential streets off Richmond Hill.

Street naming and numbering – This function is carried out

by the Building Control Section, usually in consultation with
the developers. A frequent complaint in shopping streets
is the absence of property numbers on shop premises. In all new
development, including shopfronts, the street number should be
included in the overall design.Wherever possible district names
should be included on new street signs.

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Street nameplates – Department of Transport Circular 3/93

gives guidance on the design and siting of street nameplates.
‘Kindersley’ typeface has been approved by this Council for
general use for new nameplates.

Location – Wherever possible name plates should be wall

mounted, preferably 2.5m high. Where they are mounted
at ground level or on a retaining wall the minimum height
is 6.0m and the maximum height is 3.6m above the ground.
Where it is not possible to find a suitable wall, then they should
be mounted on posts, sited for maximum visibility and minimum
obstruction for pedestrians. Ideally, plates should be fixed at every
street corner, within 3m of the junction.They should be located
to benefit from existing street lighting.

Wall mounted street name plate

Low post mounted street name plate

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Design guidelines
Lettering for roadnames to be in Kindersley font upper case
75mm. in black, on a white background. It is most important for
the overall appearance that the letters are correctly spaced
Lettering for district name to be in Helvetica font upper and
lower case, 25mm, in red (BS04D45). Intermediate line reading
‘leading to’ to be in Kindersley font, upper case, 37.5mm, in black
The street name should be centred on the sign, with the
district name justified to the right to line up with the last letter
of the street name. Any additional text, such as ‘leading to…’,
should be centred on the street name.
Minimum gap between lettering and edge of sign, 45mm
Street nameplates should be fixed to walls wherever possible
as this looks neater and avoids clutter created by separate
posts
Any fixings on the sign face itself (wall fixing only) to have
a white finish, using white plastic screw covers
Where posts are used, these and their visible fixings to be
in black with caps to posts flush with the top of the name plate.
No fixings should be visible above the nameplate. The back
of the nameplate should have a black finish if this is visible.
The height of sign plate should be 1m above ground level
Corners of signs to be rounded with 25mm radius.

Modern street name plate

Modern street name plate

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