Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2.
Designing streets and accesses with Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2, and making the case for them where the council’s own guide is more cautious.
Also known as: Manual for Streets, MfS, Manual for Streets 2, MfS2, street design guidance
What’s included.
Manual for Streets (2007) sets out how to design residential and other lightly trafficked streets as places, not just roads. Manual for Streets 2 (2010) extends the approach to busier streets and non-trunk roads. Both are widely used for visibility, junction spacing and layout.
- Street hierarchy and design speeds
- Visibility and stopping sight distance
- Junction spacing and radii
- Pedestrian and cycle priority
- Parking within the street
- Departures from local design guides
Straightforward, proportionate, agreed early.
Places first
Streets that work for people as well as traffic.
Evidence-based values
MfS stopping sight distances, which reflect research on real driver behaviour.
Local fit
Applied alongside the council’s own design guide, with any differences explained.
Questions we get asked
When does Manual for Streets apply instead of DMRB?
MfS applies to most streets and lower-speed roads. DMRB applies to trunk roads and is sometimes used on higher-speed local roads.
What does Manual for Streets 2 add?
It extends the principles to busier streets and non-trunk roads, including higher-speed situations.
Can MfS be used on a 40 mph road?
MfS2 supports its use on many roads above 30 mph, depending on the context. We agree it with the council.
Often needed alongside.
Last reviewed October 2026 by Ripple Development Planning. Policy and guidance change; for advice on a specific site, send us the details.
From our insights.
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