Footway Design
Designing safer, compliant, and durable pedestrian infrastructure across the UK.
At Sands Civil Engineering Consultancy, we provide specialist footway design services aligned with UK highways legislation and local authority standards. Whether for urban regeneration projects, new housing developments, or infrastructure upgrades, we ensure all footways are designed for safety, longevity, and accessibility.
A footway commonly referred to as a pavement is the designated pedestrian area adjacent to a road or highway. It plays a critical role in public safety, accessibility, and urban flow. In the UK, footway design must adhere to strict legal and technical requirements to ensure it is:
- Safe for pedestrians of all abilities
- Compliant with national and local highway authority standards
- Built to withstand expected usage and environmental conditions
- Integrated with surrounding infrastructure (kerbs, drainage, crossings)
UK Standards & Legislation for Footway Design
Our footway designs are guided by industry-recognised frameworks and government legislation, including:
- Manual for Streets (MfS 1 & 2) – Principles of pedestrian-friendly street design
- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) – Standards for highways
- BS 7533 – Standards for construction using modular paving materials
- Equality Act 2010 – Requirements for accessibility and inclusive design
- Highways Act 1980 – Legal framework for public right-of-way and adoption
- Local Authority Highway Design Guides – Specific highway authority criteria for materials, width, gradients, and construction techniques
Key Considerations in Footway Design
Every footway project requires detailed consideration of multiple factors to ensure function, safety, and durability:
- Width, Loading & Capacity – Designed to accommodate expected pedestrian volumes, Traffic loading with a minimum 2m width and wider for high-traffic or shared-use areas
- Surface Materials – Asphalt and Concrete paving products are widely used in the UK with Natural stone products and resin-bound systems used in urban areas
- Gradients – Ideal gradient of 2.5% and a Max gradient typically 5% (1:20) for accessibility. 1 in 12 min (8.3%) gradient at crossing points
- Drainage Integration – Provision of adequate falls, gullies, and SUDS options
- Street Furniture & Lighting – Streetlights, bollards, benches, signage, and cycle racks to be positioned without obstructing user movement.
- CBR – The foundation of the footway pavement is subject to the subgrade condition
Typical Applications
We design footways for a wide range of infrastructure and development projects, including:
- New housing and mixed-use developments
- Town centre regeneration schemes
- School and hospital access routes
- Commercial and retail parks
- Shared-space zones, Cycle schemes and public realm upgrades
Why Choose Sands Civil Engineering?
- Full technical design & planning support
- CDM and highway safety compliance
- Highway authority liaison and application management
- Road Safety Audits (RSA) where applicable
Our team works closely with local authorities to ensure smooth technical approvals and post-construction adoption.
