SRA has a long record of research and consultation on environmental issues.  We have carried studies on public attitudes to noise and air pollution and are currently researching public attitudes to street trading (for Leicester City Council). 

We have a track record of work on rural issues including transport, regeneration and access to services.  We have also worked on projects to understand the often close interaction between habitat and human activity.   A good example of this was the North Devon Link road which had an unexpected effect on a site of special scientific interest due to such interaction 

We have also worked for local authorities and the EU to develop Community Indicators for monitoring Local Transport Plans & other sustainable development.  The challenge here has been to find measures which are scientifically robust whilst at the same time making sense to local communities.   One interesting study recorded differences in attitudes to the environment between different ethnic communities.

Another focus of our work is perceptions of town centres.  Working with local authorities we have fed into refurbishments and partnership working with retailers to develop strategies to update city environments.  As well as general public attitudes we have studied the particular needs of older people, minority ethnic groups and children.

NEWS

Nottingham City Council ran an architectural competition for a new design for the city centre square.  SRA organised consultation for this project including an interactive workshop days between local stakeholders and the shortlisted firms of architects.

The final choice of the expert panel (a design by architects Gustafson Porter  featuring water terraces, trees, a stream and a light passage) took into account the views from the public discussions and the concept is now being developed in more detail.