It has been fantastic to get the support of Sir Peter Hendy for the launch of Network Rails renewed commitment to good design, demonstrated by their newly published Principles of Good Design and through the results of the Footbridge Design Competition announced at the RIBA.
We enjoyed collaborating with Network Rail and were please to hear Anthony Dewar, Professional Head of Buildings and Architecture, thank BPR for our support. We played an active role in helping Network Rail define the 9 principles, coining the term ‘Heartbeat’ that supports their vision ‘To deliver and maintain world class rail assets that provide the Heartbeat for our nations transport system’.
In addition, Network Rail have published a new Engineering and Architectural Assurance of Building and Civil Engineering Works NR/L2/CIV/003 that must be complied with from 3rd March 2019, using Form 4 Architectural and Layout Acceptance, that explicitly references the Principles of Good Design and requires all projects to be supported by a Design Principles Statement that demonstrates how new design proposals respond to the Heartbeat.
This could lead to a step change in the approach to the design of rail infrastructure and a cultural shift within the industry.
