Stratford High Street Public Realm EQIA
EQIA Summary information
The Council has a duty under Government legislation to ensure equality in relation to carrying out its services, goods and practices. The Equality Act 2006 introduced a positive duty on public sector bodies to promote equality of opportunity between women and men and eliminate sex discrimination. In addition it protects discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in terms of access to good facilities and services. The Disability Discrimination Amendment Act 2005introduced a positive duty on public bodies to promote equality for disabled people. The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000places a statutory duty on all public bodies to promote equal opportunity, eliminate racial discrimination and promote good relations between different racial groups. In terms of gender, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex.
The purpose of this Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) is to enable service improvement by ensuring that any potential adverse impact from the Stratford High Street public realm proposal are identified. If these adverse impacts are shown to lead to the unlawful discrimination upon any individual or group then this EQIA will highlight this issue and advise on the mitigation action which needs to be taken. Should any other significant adverse impacts be identified, these will be considered for amelioration in proportion and relevance to the overall impact. The public realm proposal which is being equality impact assessed is the scheme proposed as at publication of this report (June 2009). This proposal may be subject to change as a result of the findings of this report, in addition to other analysis and further consultation.
Description of Stratford High Street scope of works
The existing Stratford High Street is a hard edged landscape dominated by traffic. The number of new developments along the corridor presents a significant opportunity for Stratford High Street to establish itself as a desirable place to live, to work and to enjoy free time.
Improving the public realm within Stratford High Street will have economic benefits for the local community. Good quality public realm is considered an essential element in attracting new investment especially private sector investment. Evidence suggests that it can be used to regenerate locations, encourage increased footfall, influence business location decisions and increase property values.
Good quality public realm helps enhance civic pride and the image of areas. A feature of a good public realm is local distinctiveness, whilst connecting neighbouring areas and buildings.
Stratford High Street will receive world wide attention during the Olympic Games in 2012. The Greenway which is one of the major walking routes to the Olympics, crosses Stratford High Street. Stratford High Street is also the route of the final stage of the Olympic Marathon.
The project objectives may be summarised as follows:
- To change the image and perception of Stratford.
- To reinforce the importance of Stratford High Street through place making, provision of public space and greenery, and the delivery of a high quality public realm.
- To support increased use and a more enjoyable experience for all using the corridor and create a place which promotes community cohesion and a sense of civic pride.
- To design and deliver public space that removes crime and anti-social behaviour.
- To support recent investment and attract new investment along Stratford High Street into the town centre as a stimulus to the ongoing regeneration of the area.
- Through high quality design, to establish the corridor as the key gateway to new growth areas linking new and established communities.
- To improve the appearance of the High Street and deliver a solution by March 2011, which will provide a lasting legacy of public realm improvements for local residents.
These objectives will be achieved by:
- Providing a modern, attractive, simple, unfussy, high quality public realm as an appropriate setting for the new developments taking place.
- Delivering legible and permeable public realm for streets, open spaces, landscaping, planting and transport interchange.
- Creating an animated ‘High St’ and increased levels of use by improving the public realm for pedestrians and cyclists, delivering a safer environment with access for all.
- Improving linkages across the High St and connectivity to adjoining areas.
- Reducing the unacceptable impacts of the high volume of traffic using the road through traffic calming and visually breaking up its linear nature by emphasising north/south routes, use of shared surfaces and grouped tree planting.
- Enhancing the quality of open spaces.
- Reducing clutter by removal of excess street furniture, careful planning and proposing a furniture system that can integrate different elements within a simplified design solution.
- Materials should be low maintenance, durable, easy to maintain and clean. Street furniture will need to be robust to cope with the demands of the road.
- Choice of materials will need to have regard to sustainability issues for example sourcing, energy efficiency and recycling.
EQIA Methodology
The methodology employed for the assessment is based on guidance published by the Greater London Authority (GLA), Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IdeA) and the London Borough of Newham’s corporate policies and procedures for carrying out an EqIA. The key equality target groups to which this assessment relates are:
• Gender
• EthnicityBlack, Asian and ethnic minority people
• Disability
• Age
• Faith or religion
• Sexual Orientation•
Also added for consideration are low economic groups which is best practice in view of the number of low income household within Newham.
The EQIA considers the impact of the individual components of the public realm proposal on each of the equality groups listed above in order to:
• Identify the needs of each equality group where necessary;
• Identify the positive impacts of the proposed development where necessary
• Identify the adverse impacts of the proposed development where necessary
• Identify proportionate and reasonable mitigation measures that need to be included in the public realm proposal in order to reduce or eradicate unlawful adverse impacts.
Identify positive outcomes to be promoted where necessary
The EQIA is intended to feed into the design review of the public realm proposal, which will form the final stages of the development planning process.
EQIA Process
There are four main stages in the EQIA process. The fifth stage is a post implementation of any equalities impacts from the proposal. These are set out in the table below.
Initial screen / Stage 1 / Baseline data and intelligence gatheringStage 2 / EQIA Scoping Assessment
Stage 3 / Consultation & consideration of the impacts
Full Impact Assessment / Stage 4 / Production of Final EQIA with suggested mitigation
Post Screen / Stage 5 / Monitor the EQIA impacts of Stratford High Street Study
Baseline data and intelligence gathering
The first phase involves a desk-based review of available statistics to determine the demographic characteristics of the immediate proposal site and its surrounds and associated target groups. This phase also involves a review of national, regional and local policy on equality issues. The baseline and local knowledge of the population is then used to identify key local groups (Equality Target Groups) within the Equality Strands to assess impact and to understand issues of these key groups and how they may be affected by the proposed public realm scheme.
EQIA Scoping Assessment
The second phase is a summary of the key findings of the initial EqIA of the emerging issues and considerations for the public realm proposal combined the information obtained above to carry out an initial high-level scoping assessment to determine the level of potential impact of the development proposal. This stage employed the use of a matrix designed to draw out the key issues identified by information gained in Stage I. This scoring matrix was used to compare each relevant development proposal component against the equality strand, equality legislation and policy to which it related; identifying the level and type of impact envisaged.
An assessment was then carried out of the impact on each development proposal component on the Equality Strands classifying it according to it being positive, neutral or adverse, as demonstrated below:
Consultation Process
The third phase provides a detailed explanation of the consultation process undertaken and a summary of the outcomes of this consultation process. The consultation process includes any leaflet mail-outs, local press advertisements, consultation events, and leaflets and posters displayed at appropriate local venues.
Recommendations & Interventions
The fourth phase provides a summary of the recommended actions and interventions, to be taken forward on completion of the EQIA, to improve the public realm proposals in light of equality issues identified.
Report
Stage 1
Baseline Key Findings
An assessment of the available statistics for the Stratford High Street proposal area and London Borough of Newham has been undertaken to develop a comprehensive profile of the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of residents living in and around the proposal area.
According to the Key Statistics 2007 and ethnicity figures from the 2001 census indicate that Newham had the largest proportion of non-White ethnic groups in the country. Almost two-thirds (61%) of Newham's population was from non-White ethnic groups (Brent has the highest percentage of ethnic minorities, when White-Irish and Other-White are grouped with ethnic minorities). Newham was reported to have the second highest percentage of Asians in England and Wales, with the second largest percentage of Bangladeshis in England and Wales (Tower Hamlets lead in both these statistics). It also had the second highest percentage of Black Africans in England and Wales in 2001.
Information in relation to the borough is detailed below.
Ethnicity (GLA Ethnic projections, 2005-round)
Percentage of people in ethnic groups:
White: 34.2%
Asian or Asian British: 35.8%
Indian 12.3%
Pakistani 9.6%
Bangladeshi 9.6%
Other Asian 4.3%
Black or Black British:24.9%
Caribbean7.1%
African 14.7%
Other Black 3.0%
Other ethnic group:3.9%
Note: New community groups, such as Eastern Europeans, are not modelled in these projections due to a lack of data available.
Religion (2001 Census)
Percentage of people who are:
Christian 46.8%
Jewish 0.2%
Muslim 24.3%
Hindu 6.9%
Sikh 2.8%
Buddhist 0.7%
Other religion 0.3%
Religion not stated 9.0%
No religion 9.0%
Method of Travel to Work (2001 Census)
Underground; metro; light rail; train 40.1%
Driving (or passenger in) a car or van 29.3%
Bus; minibus or coach; Taxi or minicab 12.6%
Works mainly at or from home 8.2%
Motorcycle; scooter or moped 0.8%
On foot 7.3%
Bicycle or Other 1.8%
Public Transport (Transport for London, 2007)
Entrances and exits at Tube stations in Newham in 2006 (provisional) 55.9
million
Passenger journeys on buses passing through Newham in 2006/07 113.2
million
Stratford and New Town ward key statistics
Within the Stratford and New Town ward were the public realm proposal lies, the following statistics were found.
Age Structure (GLA ward projection, 2004)
People in each age band:
Stratford and New Town, Newham
Count Percentage
0 - 14 2794 20.1% 22.4%
15 - 24 1936 14.0% 15.2%
25 - 39 5011 36.1% 30.8%
40 - 64 2967 21.4% 23.2%
65 - 74 627 4.5% 4.7%
75 + 532 3.8% 3.6%
Source: GLA ward projection, 2005 RND Interim, 2004
Ethnicity (Census 2001, Table KS06)
Percentage of people in ethnic groups:
Stratford New Town Newham
White: 45.1% 39.4%
British 38.2% 33.8%
Irish 1.7% 1.3%
Other White 5.2% 4.3%
Mixed: 3.9% 3.4%
White and Black Caribbean 1.6% 1.2%
White and Black African 0.8% 0.7%
White and Asian 0.5% 0.7%
Other mixed 1.0% 0.8%
Asian or Asian British: 17.6% 32.5%
Indian 5.5% 12.1%
Pakistani 3.5% 8.5%
Bangladeshi 6.9% 8.8%
Other Asian 1.7% 3.1%
Black or Black British: 30.2% 21.6%
Caribbean10.3% 7.4%
African 18.1% 13.1%
Other Black 1.8% 1.1%
Chinese or other ethnic: 3.3% 3.1%
Chinese 1.4% 1.0%
Other ethnic group 1.9% 2.1%
Religion (2001 Census, Table KS07)
Percentage of people who are:
SNT Newham
Christian 54.8% 46.8%
Muslim 16.8% 24.3%
Hindu 3.2% 6.9%
Sikh 0.8% 2.8%
Buddhist 0.7% 0.7%
Jewish 0.2% 0.2%
Other religions 0.5% 0.3%
No religion 12.4% 9.0%
Religion not stated 10.5% 9.0%
Method of Travel to Work (2001 Census, Table KS15)
Stratford New Town Newham
Underground; metro; light rail; train 36.8% 30.4%
Driving (or passenger in) a car or van 1.3% 2.3%
Bus; minibus or coach; Taxi or minicab 12.1% 12.1%
Works mainly at or from home 6.6% 8.2%
Motorcycle; scooter or moped 0.8% 0.8%
On foot 8.4% 7.3%
Bicycle or Other 2.5% 1.7%
Total Crimes 2005/06 (Metropolitan Police, 2006)
Stratford New Town Newham
Percentage* Count Count
Theft and Handling 14.3% 1587 11066
Violence Against Person 9.1% 589 6506
Criminal Damage 7.4% 291 3914
Robbery 12.1% 223 1844
Fraud or Forgery 19.7% 286 1451
Domestic Violence 7.7% 316 4109
Burglary 8.3% 312 3745
Drugs 9.5% 146 1534
Sexual Offences 10.1% 24 237
Racial Offences 9.7% 35 360
Other Notifiable Offences6.8% 16 234
Homophobic Offences 10.3% 3 29
*
e.g. 14.3% of total Theft and Handling offences occurred in SNT
Life Expectancy (Office of National Statistics, 2004)
SNT Newham
Male 72.6 74.4
Female 80.1 78.8
Disability Data information for Stratford New Town
Data / Period / InformationIncapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance / February 2009
(Qtr) / 595 claimants
Disability Living Allowance / February 2009 (Qtr) / 40 claimants
Stage 2
Details of the project – Impact Assessment
Key:
Potential Adverse Impact
Neutral Impact
Positive Impact
Elements of the projectRace / Gender / Disability / Age / Faith/
Religion / Sexual Orientation / Income Groups
Providing a modern, attractive, simple, unfussy, high quality public realm as an appropriate setting for the new developments taking place. / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials . / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials . / There is an identified impact with the provision of new materials. There is no tactile paving which may cause concern with some disability groups.. / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials . / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials . / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials . / There is no identified impact from the provision of new materials .
Delivering legible and permeable public realm for streets, open spaces, landscaping, planting and transport interchange. / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact
Creating an animated ‘High St’ and increased levels of use by improving the public realm for pedestrians and cyclists, delivering a safer environment with access for all. / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impact
Improving linkages across the High St and connectivity to adjoining areas. / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre / This is a positive impact on this equality target group as the improved linkages enables access of target groups to each other and access to goods and services in Stratford Town Centre
Reducing the unacceptable impacts of the high volume of traffic using the road through traffic calming and visually breaking up its linear nature by emphasising north/south routes, use of shared surfaces and grouped tree planting. / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is no impactof the details of the scheme proposed in this section / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is noimpact of the details of the scheme proposed in this section / There is potentially an adverse impact to people in this group as the shared surfaces proposed for Lett Road could be difficult to navigate. Traffic calming needs to effectively slow down vehicles to enable people with disabilities to cross. / There is potentially an adverse impact for children and older people in this group as the shared surfaces propsed for Lett Roadcould be difficult to navigate. Traffic calming needs to effectively slow down vehicles to enable children and older people to cross / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is noimpactof the details of the scheme proposed in this section / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there isnoimpactof the details of the scheme proposed in this section / At this stage, with the details available for assessment, there is noimpact of the details of the scheme proposed in this section
Enhancing the quality of open spaces. / There is no identified impact from enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact from enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact from enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact from enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact from enhancing the quality of open spaces / There is no identified impact enhancing the quality of open spaces
Reducing clutter by removal of excess street furniture, careful planning and proposing a furniture system that can integrate different elements within a simplified design solution. / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture, and replacement of seating in areas where there is existing seating / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture, and replacement of seating in areas where there is existing seating / The reduction of clutter will have a positive impact in terms of helping to improve the ease of navigation around public spaces. / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture, and replacement of seating in areas where there is existing seating / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture including seating and proposing a simplified system / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture including seating and proposing a simplified system / There is no identified impact from the removal of excess street furniture including seating and proposing a simplified system
Materials should be low maintenance, durable, easy to maintain and clean. Street furniture will need to be robust to cope with the demands of the road. / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials / There is no identified impact from the use of low maintenance and robust street furniture materials
Choice of materials will need to have regard to sustainability issues for example sourcing, energy efficiency and recycling. / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials / There is no identified impact from the use of sustainable, energy efficient and recyclable materials
Consultation