Better street design could boost property prices by up to 5%, according to a new report from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The Paved with gold: The real value of street design report uses research from 10 different high streets in London to find out how residents value their locality. The report concludes that even modest improvements to street design can result in a 5% rise in the price of residential properties on the high streets, as well as a similar increase in the level of rents for shops. Improvements such as dropped kerbs, good lighting and public spaces along the street can all help create a better environment and boost the local economy. The report also states that most users are happy to pay for improvements to their high streets. Most local residents said they would be willing to pay more council tax, and public transport users said they would accept higher fares to improve the quality of their high streets. CABE Space director, Sarah Gaventa, said: ‘We all have an interest in making streets better because we all use them.'
