Better Transport

Local authorities designate an area as a Home Zone. They’re given this power through section 268 of the Transport Act.

A Home Zone will be created when:

• A wide group of residents is able to put a good case to the local authority that a Home Zone would be a much-welcomed solution to some local traffic problems
• The local authority can pay for the home zone

Home Zones aren’t cheap. Your local authority will spend £200-400,000 to pay for new road surfaces, new planting and street furniture to create a Home Zone – using money allocated in the local transport plan and elsewhere. For example, a Home Zone for New Brancepeth, on the outskirts of Durham, was funded from the local transport plan, the City of Durham, the Durham Villages Regeneration Fund and planning obligations (often called ‘section 106 agreements’ because they were created through section 106 of the old planning act).

Home Zones aren’t quick solutions. It will take you a couple of years for your campaign to result in a new Home Zone.

Don’t know how to reach your local authority? Find the contact details online, on the DirectGov website.