Project information

  • Category: Web app design
  • Client: Street Manager
  • Project date: 25 June, 2020
  • Project URL: NA

Street Manager

Street Manager is a digital service developed by the Department for Transport (DfT) to plan, coordinate, and manage street works across the UK. The platform streamlines the permit application and works management process required for large‑scale broadband and utility infrastructure upgrades, helping local authorities reduce disruption while enabling faster delivery.

Project

8 months | Group (Agile)

    My Role

  • UX/Product Designer
  • Interaction design and flow definition
  • Information architecture
  • High fidelity UI mockups
  • End-to-end jouney design

    Software

  • Figma
  • Adobe Illustrator

    Platform

  • Web

Problem

Street works are essential but highly disruptive when poorly coordinated.


  • Local authorities handle thousands of permit applications across multiple utilities
  • Legacy processes are fragmented, manual, and inconsistent across councils
  • Applicants struggle with complex rules, designations, and approvals
  • Poor visibility causes traffic congestion, duplicated works, and public dissatisfaction

Design challenge: How might we simplify permit applications while ensuring authorities maintain control, compliance, and visibility?


Users & Stakeholders

    Primary users

  • Utility contractors (e.g. broadband, water, gas)
  • Permit coordinators and planners

    Secondary users

  • Local authority officers
  • Inspectors and enforcement teams

    Stakeholders

  • Department for Transport
  • Local councils
  • Infrastructure providers

Goals

  • Reduce time and effort to submit permit applications
  • Guide users through complex regulatory steps with clarity
  • Prevent invalid or non‑compliant submissions early
  • Improve visibility of works status for all parties
  • Support real‑time coordination and decision‑making

Design System

Key User Journey

1. Dashboard & Activity Overview

  • Present a single source of truth for all works and applications
  • Surface key counts: applications, inspections, penalties, reinstatements
  • Enable quick actions for frequent tasks (new application, start work)

Outcome:Users immediately understand what needs attention.



2. Identify Work Location

  • Search by USRN, postcode, street name, or grid reference
  • Display results on an interactive map
  • Highlight traffic sensitivity and designationsin context
  • Confirm the selected location with authoritative metadata

Outcome:Users immediately understand what needs attention.







3. Plan Works

Works Type & Timing

  • Choose planned, immediate, or retrospective works
  • Capture start/end dates with automatic duration calculation
  • Flag early start requirements and approvals



Works Activity

  • Define road type and affected areas (carriageway, footway, verge)
  • Select activity type from a controlled list
  • Capture clear descriptions for authority review

Outcome:The system prevents errors and incomplete submissions before review.






4. Review & Submit

  • Present a clear summary of all entered data
  • Surface affected designations (traffic sensitive roads, bus routes, events)
  • Allow quick edits without losing progress

Outcome:Users submit with confidence, reducing back‑and‑forth.




5. Works Record & Lifecycle Management

  • Track application status (submitted, granted, in progress, completed)
  • View a full audit trail of actions and decisions
  • Manage inspections, reinstatements, and penalties in one place
  • Log work start/stop events










Design Principles Applied



  • Progressive disclosure to manage complexity
  • Strong validation to prevent costly mistakes
  • Map-first interaction for spatial accuracy
  • Clear system feedback at every stage
  • Consistency across workflows

Impact



  • Faster permit submissions with fewer errors
  • Reduced administrative overhead for councils
  • Improved coordination across utilities
  • Better traffic management and reduced public disruption

What I’m Proud Of

  • Translating complex legislation into usable digital flows
  • Designing for both speed and compliance
  • Creating a scalable system used nationwide
  • Balancing contractor efficiency with public interest

Learnings



  • Regulatory products demand clarity over cleverness
  • Maps are powerful but must stay secondary to task completion
  • Preventing errors early saves weeks downstream

"Street works are essential but highly disruptive when poorly coordinated."


Contact

Location:

Madhapur, Hyderabad, 500081

Call:

+91-9966936100

Loading
Your message has been sent. Thank you!