UK to Issue Guidance for Safer Streets for Women
Why this is here: The initiative directly addresses women's experiences, with a Local Transport Minister walking streets with women to discuss safety needs, signifying a shift toward prioritizing lived experiences in urban planning.
The UK government announced new guidance for councils to redesign streets with women’s safety in mind. New polling reveals that roughly 9 in 10 women feel unsafe walking alone at night, with about 1 in 3 young women altering their routes due to safety concerns.
The guidance, to be published in 2026, will focus on gender-sensitive design principles for streets. This includes improved lighting, better visibility, and well-traveled routes with CCTV coverage. The initiative supports the government’s goal to halve violence against women and girls within ten years.
Several cities are already implementing safety measures. These include CCTV installations, upgraded streetlights, and improved bus stop lighting. Some areas have removed underpasses, replacing them with safer street-level crossings, while others are piloting on-demand night bus stops.