Safer streets for women: English councils to receive new design guidance

Published: 25 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The British government is taking a major step to improve safer streets for the public. Ministers are currently preparing the first official guidance for local councils to protect women and girls. This initiative aims to tackle the systemic unfairness that limits how women move through their areas. Active Travel England is leading the project to ensure every neighbourhood feels welcoming and secure. The guidance will focus on practical changes to the physical environment in our local towns. Officials believe that better design can significantly reduce the risks people face when walking home. Many women currently feel forced to avoid certain areas due to poor urban planning. This new framework intends to change that reality by prioritizing safety in every new project.

Current statistics show that safer streets remain a distant dream for many female residents today. Polling commissioned by Active Travel England reveals that eighty-eight percent of women feel very unsafe. These individuals often worry about walking alone once the sun sets in their local community. Nearly three-quarters of women admitted they change their walking routes during the winter months specifically. They do this to avoid dark places that feel dangerous or isolated from public view. Such calculations are exhausting and limit the freedom of millions of people across the country. The government wants to remove these mental burdens by improving the quality of our infrastructure. By focusing on better design, ministers hope to encourage more people to walk every day.

The upcoming guidance will recommend several key physical improvements for councils to implement very soon. This includes installing much better lighting in areas that currently sit in total darkness tonight. Replacing narrow and scary underpasses with street-level crossings is also a very high priority here. CCTV coverage will be reviewed to ensure that busy walking routes are monitored more effectively. These changes aim to make the environment feel more open and less threatening for everyone. Beyond physical builds, the government is looking at successful international schemes to find fresh ideas. Some countries like Spain and Sweden allow bus drivers to stop between official bus stations. This service helps women get closer to their front doors during the late night hours. Such a simple change could make a massive difference for those living in rural areas.

Lilian Greenwood, the local transport minister, recently spoke about the importance of these new safety measures. She described the issue of safer streets as a fundamental matter of fairness for all. Greenwood noted that women and girls generally have lower levels of physical activity than men. This gap exists partly because many women do not feel comfortable exercising outdoors in the evening. If women feel safe, they are more likely to choose walking over using a car. This shift would improve the health of the nation and help the environment as well. The minister emphasized that walking should be a simple and straightforward task for every citizen. No one should have to fret about their journey before they even leave home.

The new guidance will be officially published later this year along with specialized training sessions. Local councils will be invited to bid for central government funding to start these improvements. However, the government will only grant money if the proposed schemes meet very high standards. Active Travel England wants to ensure that every penny spent creates a truly inclusive environment. They believe that looking at transport through a gender lens reveals many hidden design flaws. For example, a route might be quick but feel terrifying if it lacks visibility. By addressing these feelings, councils can create spaces where everyone feels they truly belong. The focus is on making both quiet paths and busy roads feel much safer.

Home Office minister Jess Phillips has also lent her strong support to this nationwide initiative. She stated that the guidance shifts responsibility away from women and onto the actual spaces. For too long, women have been told to change their behaviour to stay safe outside. This new approach suggests that the environment itself must change to protect the vulnerable people. Phillips believes that women deserve to go about their lives without fear of any violence. Whether they are travelling to work or meeting friends, safety should be a basic guarantee. The government is committed to tackling the behaviours and locations that put people at risk. This policy represents a turning point in how we view the safety of women.

Chris Boardman, the commissioner for Active Travel England, says lived experience will guide the final document. He believes it is a terrible thing that freedoms are not equal for all genders. Men and boys often do not think twice about walking to a local shop. In contrast, many women feel they must pay for a taxi to travel short distances. The YouGov poll found that fifty-seven percent of women use taxis to avoid walking alone. This creates a financial burden that men rarely have to face in their daily lives. Boardman insists that his job is to help make every neighbourhood safe for every person. By listening to women, the government can find the best ways to improve our streets.

The push for safer streets follows previous criticism of national planning guidelines released earlier this year. Some observers were shocked when an earlier framework failed to mention the safety of women at all. At that time, some officials questioned why planning and safety were even being linked together. This new guidance proves that the government now understands the vital connection between design and security. Creating a safer world requires more than just policing; it requires thoughtful and inclusive urban design. When streets are bright and open, they naturally discourage crime and foster a sense of community. This benefits everyone, from young children to the elderly living in our busy urban centres.

Greenwood will further argue that improving street safety is a clear political no-brainer for the government. A healthier population leads to a stronger economy and reduced pressure on the National Health Service. However, these goals are impossible to reach if half the population remains afraid to walk. The systemic barriers that prevent women from moving freely must be dismantled with deliberate action now. This guidance is just the beginning of a long-term plan to transform the English landscape. It sends a clear message that the safety of women and girls is a priority. Future generations should be able to walk anywhere at any time without feeling any fear.

In the coming months, local authorities will start reviewing their current transport plans to match these goals. Residents are encouraged to speak up about the areas where they feel most vulnerable today. Public consultations will help identifies the specific spots that require urgent lighting or new pedestrian crossings. Community involvement is essential to ensure the changes actually meet the needs of local women. As councils begin to implement these designs, the face of our cities will slowly change. We can look forward to a future where our streets are designed for everyone. This initiative marks a significant step toward true equality and freedom of movement across England.

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