DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

VOLUME 8
SECTION 2

TRAFFIC SIGNS AND

LIGHTING
TRAFFIC SIGNS AND
ROAD MARKINGS

PART 6
TD 53/05
TRAFFIC SIGNS TO RETAIL
DESTINATIONS AND EXHIBITION
CENTRES IN ENGLAND AND WALES TRUNK ROADS
SUMMARY
This Standard sets out the requirements and
recommendations for the provision of traffic signs to
retail destinations and exhibition centres on the
all-purpose and motorway trunk road network in
England and Wales.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
This is a new document to be incorporated into the
Manual.
1.

Remove existing Contents pages for Volume 8.

2.

Insert new Contents Pages for Volume 8, dated

February 2005.

3.

Insert TD 53/05 into Volume 8, Section 2.

4.

Please archive this sheet as appropriate.

Note: A quarterly index with a full set of Volume

Contents Pages is available separately from The
Stationery Office Ltd.

February 2005

DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

TD 53/05

THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
LLYWODRAETH CYNULLIAD CYMRU
THE DEPARTMENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NORTHERN IRELAND

Traffic Signs to Retail

Destinations and Exhibition
Centres in England and Wales Trunk Roads

Summary:

This Standard sets out the requirements and recommendations for the
provision of traffic signs to retail destinations and exhibition centres on the
all-purpose and motorway trunk road network in England and Wales.

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Registration of Amendments

REGISTRATION OF AMENDMENTS

Amend
No

Page No

February 2005

Signature & Date of

incorporation of
amendments

Amend
No

Page No

Signature & Date of

incorporation of
amendments

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Registration of Amendments

REGISTRATION OF AMENDMENTS

Amend
No

Page No

Signature & Date of

incorporation of
amendments

Amend
No

Page No

Signature & Date of

incorporation of
amendments

February 2005

DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

VOLUME 8
SECTION 2

TRAFFIC SIGNS AND

LIGHTING
TRAFFIC SIGNS AND
ROAD MARKINGS

PART 6
TD 53/05
TRAFFIC SIGNS TO RETAIL
DESTINATIONS AND EXHIBITION
CENTRES IN ENGLAND AND WALES TRUNK ROADS
Contents
Chapter

February 2005

1.

Introduction

2.

Signing Policy

3.

Sign Type and Design

4.

Signing Continuity and Extent

5.

Retail Destination or Exhibition Centre Name

6.

Sign Overload

7.

Financial Arrangements

8.

Review of Existing Signs

9.

References

10.

Enquiries

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 1
Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION
c)

tourist sign refers to a sign with white legend,

on a brown background, with a white border;

d)

The TSRGD refers to The Traffic Signs

Regulations and General Directions 2002 [3] or
as amended;

e)

Home Traffic Authority (HTA) refers to the

traffic authority for the road which provides the
main direct access to the retail destination or
exhibition centre;

f)

serviceable life refers to the period during

which a sign continues to meet the serviceability
criteria set out in TD 25/01 [4];

g)

advance direction sign refers to a sign giving

route information in respect of a junction ahead;

h)

direction sign refers to a sign that is located at

a junction and pointing along a specific route;

i)

1.4 However, this has led to inconsistencies in

signing in adjoining areas, or even within a single
authoritys area, where major retail centres were
already signed on standard directional signs as
significant local destinations, but new developments
were signed with white on brown signs.

standard directional signing refers to the

combination of advance direction signs and
direction signs, provided to meet the strategic
needs of long distance traffic as well as the needs
of local traffic, as an aid to navigation;

j)

retail destination refers to a retail park,

shopping centre or garden centre;

k)

1.5 The standard TD 52/04 Traffic Signs to Tourist

Attractions and Facilities in England: Tourist Signing Trunk Roads [2] states Retail parks, shopping centres,
garden centres and exhibition centres should not in
future be considered for signing from trunk roads using
white on brown signs; instead they should be signed as
necessary for traffic management or road safety reasons
using standard directional signing.

major retail destination refers to an

establishment where the area of retail premises
(excluding public areas, access roads and car
parks) exceeds 70,000 square metres;

l)

exhibition centre refers to a permanently

established venue for staging exhibitions or
special events throughout the year;

m)

major exhibition centre refers to an

exhibition centre with an exhibition area of more
than 10,000 square metres;

n)

sign diagram xxxx refers to the

correspondingly numbered diagram in the
TSRGD.

1.1 This Standard provides policy on the provision of

traffic signs to retail parks, shopping centres, garden
centres and exhibition centres on trunk roads in
England and Wales. This Standard shall be
implemented with immediate effect.
1.2 The objective of this Standard is to provide
policy on signs which are appropriate to meet the needs
of road users in general and which is consistent with
safe and efficient traffic management and with minimal
impact on the environment. Route Managers need to
ensure that all these factors are properly taken into
account when preparing or updating their signing
strategies for a route, as part of the overall Route
Management Strategy or general network management
responsibilities.
1.3 Until 1995 retail parks, shopping centres and
garden centres could only be signed using standard
directional signing. In 1995 the revised guidance for
tourist signing (CR3/95 [1]) amended the definition of a
tourist destination eligible for white on brown signs in
England, so that retail establishments were no longer
excluded.

1.6 In this document, the following terms shall have

the meaning shown:
a)

trunk roads refers to both all-purpose and

motorway trunk roads, unless specified
otherwise;

b)

signs refers to temporary and permanent traffic

signs;

February 2005

1/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 2
Signing Policy

2. SIGNING POLICY
2.1 Retail destinations and exhibition centres shall
only be considered for signing where there are clear
traffic management or safety reasons. In such cases
only standard directional signing as prescribed by the
TSRGD shall be used for new or replacement signs.
2.2 Only major retail destinations and major
exhibition centres may be considered for signing on
motorways.
2.3 The main purpose of providing signs to retail
destinations and exhibition centres is to guide drivers to
their intended destination along the most appropriate
route during the latter stage of their journey,
particularly where the destination or entrance may be
difficult to find. While it is recognised that traffic signs
to retail destinations and exhibition centres are
perceived by businesses as useful marketing tools, this
is not the purpose for which they are provided. They
should not be used as a means to circumvent planning
control of advertisements, nor as a substitute for good
promotional material. As a general principle, the owner
or operator is expected to advertise the retail destination
or exhibition centre, the opening times, the location,
accessibility by road and public transport, in
newspapers and leaflets and on web sites. Signing
should only be provided where this will benefit road
users (i.e. as an aid to navigation and for safety or
traffic management reasons).

2.6 It is essential to ensure that there is consistency

and continuity of signing across Highways Agency
(HA) and other highway authority boundaries. This is
particularly important in large urban areas, where there
are many local authorities that may have differing
policies and strategies. Therefore, the signing strategy
for a destination should be developed after consulting
the Route Managers for other affected HA routes, as
well as adjoining highway authorities, to agree
consistent arrangements for cross-boundary signing.

2.4 Decisions on the provision of signing to

individual destinations should be considered on their
merits and will depend on local circumstances. Priority
for signing will be given to destinations which attract a
large volume of traffic and which cannot be reached
simply by following signs to a town or city which
appears in their address. Retail destinations and
exhibition centres that can be identified with towns or
cities signed on a trunk road will not normally be
signed on the trunk road unless specific route guidance
is needed.
2.5 If a destination merits the provision of signing,
then that provision shall be conditional on the removal
of any directional advertisement signs adjacent to the
highway, together with any unauthorised advertising
materials.

February 2005

2/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 3
Sign Type and Design

3. SIGN TYPE AND DESIGN

3.1 Traffic signs must comply with the TSRGD.
Guidance on the design of traffic signs is contained in
Chapter 7 of the Traffic Signs Manual [5], while
guidance on the use of directional signing generally is
contained in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/94 [6].
3.2 Where retail destinations and exhibition centres
are included on standard directional signs they should
be treated as local destinations for the purpose of sign
design. However, they should not normally be shown on
route confirmatory signs to diagrams 2030 and 2030.1.

February 2005

3/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 4
Signing Continuity and Extent

4. SIGNING CONTINUITY AND EXTENT

4.1 Retail destinations and exhibition centres vary in
size from small groups of local shops to very extensive
areas and will generate traffic according to their size,
attractiveness and effectiveness of advertising. The
extent of any directional signing that may be required
will be dependent on the volume of traffic and location
of the retail destination or exhibition centre in relation
to the local and trunk road networks.
4.2 The distance from the first sign to the destination
should be appropriate to the traffic management and
safety requirements. For a local group of shops or small
shopping centre, signing at the entrance or additionally
from the previous junction is likely to be sufficient.
Signing to other retail destinations and exhibition
centres should not normally extend more than 2 miles
from the destination. However, for a major retail
destination or a major exhibition centre, signing from
the wider network within the vicinity may be justified
where specific route guidance is needed, but this should
not normally extend more than 5 miles from the
destination.
4.3 There must be continuity and consistency of
signing from the first sign to the destination entrance. A
retail destination or exhibition centre should only be
signed from a trunk road if continuity signing has been
provided on the local road network. The route onto
which traffic is being directed must be the most suitable
link from the trunk road to the destination.
4.4 The number of signs provided should only be
sufficient to satisfy the traffic management and safety
needs, so that environmental intrusion is minimised.

February 2005

4/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 5
Retail Destination or Exhibition Centre Name

5. RETAIL DESTINATION OR EXHIBITION

CENTRE NAME
5.1 Where appropriate for traffic management or
safety reasons, the collective name of a retail
destination or exhibition centre may be used on the
sign. The name should be concise and easy to
assimilate, e.g. Bluewater or N.E.C. Such collective
names must be included in the postal address of the
individual establishments within the retail destination.
Otherwise generic names should normally be used, such
as Local shops, Shopping centre, Retail park,
Supermarket etc. Individual retail establishments shall
not be named on the signs.
5.2 Symbols and logos associated with retail
destinations and exhibition centres are not prescribed
by the TSRGD and are not likely to be authorised. The
non-prescribed garden centre symbol that was
authorised before the TSRGD 2002 came into force is
no longer to be used.

February 2005

5/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 6
Sign Overload

6. SIGN OVERLOAD
6.1 Retail destinations or exhibition centres should
normally be included on standard directional signing,
but where such inclusion may cause a sign to have too
many destinations, consideration should be given to the
removal of one or more of the less important
destinations. If this is not feasible, a separate sign sited
in accordance with Appendix A of LTN 1/94 may be
appropriate.
6.2 In some situations, the use of sign diagrams 2034
or 2915 (of TSRGD) of the type for destination x
follow route y and their variants may be useful and
effective in reducing the number of signs required,
particularly for signing major retail destinations or
major exhibition centres.

February 2005

6/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 7
Financial Arrangements

7. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
7.1 Signing to a new or redeveloped retail destination
or exhibition centre should normally be at the expense
of the developer, so that the highway authority incurs
no financial burden. Section 278 of the Highways Act
1980 [7] provides a means for the highway authority to
recover its actual costs, including the installation costs,
administration costs and, where appropriate, future
maintenance costs.
7.2 Once the signs have been installed, they become
the property of the highway authority and are
maintained on the same basis as other standard
directional signs.

February 2005

7/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 8
Review of Existing Signs

8. REVIEW OF EXISTING SIGNS

8.1 The continuing suitability of existing signs and
the possible need for modification, replacement or
removal should be kept under review as part of the
general network management responsibilities. Where
applicable, Route Management Strategies, insofar as
they relate to signing strategy, should be reviewed and
amended if appropriate to ensure that they are in
accordance with TD 52/04 and this Standard.
8.2 An existing sign may have to be replaced for a
number of reasons, for example, when it reaches the
end of its serviceable life, is damaged, or due to
alterations to the highway network. The replacement
sign should reflect current circumstances. A sign should
not be replaced automatically, but the need for it and all
associated signs should be reviewed.
8.3 When a signed retail destination or exhibition
centre is closed permanently, the redundant signs
should be removed (or the appropriate legend covered
up in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual,
Chapter 7, Section 11) as soon as possible.

February 2005

8/1

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

Chapter 9
References

9. REFERENCES
1.

Department of Transport Circular Roads 3/95

Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities
in England 1995.

2.

Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities

in England: Tourist Signing Trunk Roads.
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 8,
Section 2, Part 4: TD 52/04. The Stationery
Office (TSO). ISBN 0 11 552 404 5.

3.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General

Directions 2002. Statutory Instrument 2002 No.
3113. TSO. ISBN 0 11 042 942 7.

4.

Inspection and Maintenance of Traffic Signs on

Motorway and All-Purpose Trunk Roads. Design
Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 8,
Section 2, Part 2: TD 25/01. TSO. ISBN 0 11 552
294 8.
Amendment No.1: ISBN 0 11 552 473 8.

5.

Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 7. The Design of

Traffic Signs. 2003. TSO. ISBN 0 11 552 480 0.

6.

Local Transport Note 1/94. The Design and Use

of Directional Informatory Signs. July 1994.
TSO. ISBN 0 11 551 610 7.

7.

The Highways Act, 1980.

February 2005

9/1

Chapter 10
Enquiries

Volume 8 Section 2
Part 6 TD 53/05

10. ENQUIRIES
All technical enquiries or comments on this Standard should be sent in writing as appropriate to:

Chief Highway Engineer

The Highways Agency
123 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 9HA

G CLARKE
Chief Highway Engineer

Chief Road Engineer

Scottish Executive
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

J HOWISON
Chief Road Engineer

Chief Highway Engineer

Transport Directorate
Welsh Assembly Government
Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru
Crown Buildings
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

M J A PARKER
Chief Highway Engineer
Transport Directorate

Director of Engineering
The Department for Regional Development
Roads Service
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8GB

G W ALLISTER
Director of Engineering

February 2005

10/1