Online House Hunter: Right up their street

Lincoln: The Cathedral City has won the Academy of Urbanism's Greatest Street award

STEEP Hill in Lincoln has just been awarded the title of the greatest street in Britain. Anyone who has been to this cathedral city will know it’s the steep hill – probably the only hill in this otherwise flat county – that links the main city centre with the cathedral. And while “best place in Britain” awards are often handed out with gusto by PR companies, this one comes with the highest accreditation. It’s been made by the Academy of Urbanism, an august organisation which has the grand aim of studying “social, cultural, economic, political and physical development of our villages, towns and cities”.

Man continues to build houses, offices and factories on this beautiful land and it’s normally done without much thought for the greater picture. The Academy of Urbanism and its members look at the most pleasing and effective developments, studying which factors are important for both small and large-scale developments. As part of this goal, it runs annual awards and this year’s have just been announced. The winner of the Great Street Award has gone to Steep Hill in Lincoln but close runners-up were Byres Road, in Glasgow and Cockburn Street in Edinburgh.

The Academy’s report on the street points out that the Romans were first to develop this 300m stretch. It adds: “Today the street has a variety of uses, both commercially and as a main pedestrian artery between the cathedral and Market Square to the northern end and the main High Street and shopping district at the southern end. Included on the street itself are a variety of uses, all appearing to be weather the economic storm; tea rooms and tea merchants, pubs, higher-end clothing stores, restaurants – all independent – and residential uses. There is also a gallery, chapel and church. The buildings and the street have been able to adapt to socio-economic changes over time, competing with the rest of the town by providing ‘something different’ and a unique experience due to the Hill.”

And if other towns are wondering what is the secrets of its success then they can read the full report on line. But credit is given to a number of factors and a number of people. For example the masons in the highways department trained beyond usual levels of expertise to work on the cobbled streets. The report recognises there’s been no ‘patching up’ with tarmac – other ‘historic’ cities please take note!

Also applauded is the Business Improvement Group which “has been created to channel the needs and aspirations of local communities to the local authorities and ensure the implementation of projects and the good maintenance of the public realm”. Local traders, the council and the community all working together? Surely, it can’t be that radical – or that simple.

So hat’s off to Steep Hill and the good people of Lincoln. The Academy recognises that successful town planning means not just a better chance the local economy will work but also a pleasant place that people will want to set up home in. Anyone who has been to Lincoln will know that the X-factor of Steep Hill is duplicated in many other parts of the city. And for those wishing to move there, a link is included below.

USEFUL LINKS:

• Properties for sale in Lincoln
• The Academy of Urbanism
• Lincoln Business Improvement Group
• City of Lincoln
• Independent Property Search
• Homes & Property area guides
• Properties for Sale in Glasgow
• Properties for Sale in Edinburgh

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