Shared space is growing in the UK. Schemes in Ashford, Gloucester, Brighton and Southend have all received publicity and differing degrees of reception over recent years, but the notion of seamlessly blending traffic and pedestrian flows has been a part of continental European culture for some time now.

The publication of the recent Department for Transport (DFT) Shared Space: Local Transport Note 1/11 gives some interesting insights into planning shared space environments but from a predominantly urbanised high street perspective.

It states ‘on the continent, shared space is often used to smooth traffic flows and reduce delays at major junctions,’ as opposed to in the UK, where ‘it is usually applied to links and minor junctions with the aim of allowing pedestrians to move freely within the space’.

The guidance note also states there is no such thing as a ‘definitive shared space design’. Instead, the emphasis in the UK focuses too heavily on physical demarcation, alleviating segregation and reducing congestion.

Shared Space guru, Ben Hamilton-Baillie, told LGN that shared space is a concept that has place making at its heart and is useful in promoting a more integrated relationship between designers and engineers. However, it can also cause confusion owing to the application of its different principles in different contexts.

He said: ‘For example, the UK has a particular problem to overcome the barrier effect of some busier ring roads or A-roads that cut through towns and villages, and we are only just beginning to explore the potential of these applications.’

A presentation by Pieter de Haan, NHL University for Applied Sciences, knowledge Centre Shared Space, at a recent ‘Sharing the Street’ conference outlined some key lessons on design from abroad.

According to De Haan, shared space should not only define the quality of a public space, but an awareness of the history and architecture of the area are also important. For example, a scheme in Sint Nicolaasga in Friesland, Netherlands (NL) utilises a cathedral at one side of the scheme to help drivers navigate through the shared area.

As part of the INTERREG IIIB North Sea Programme, a project in De Rieshoek Noord Laren near Haren, (NL) took a unique approach to ensuring child safety. By incorporating aspects of the school’s playground, such as play fencing and model owl benches into the main road in a bid to reduce traffic speeds. Another scheme in Bohmte dismantled its road signs, walkways and cycle lanes to cut accidents as a clear objective.

Hamilton-Baillie added: ‘The INTERREG scheme was useful in bringing together a range of European experience, and schemes such as the centre of Bohmte, the small town near Osnabruck in Germany, demonstrated what could be done to civilise busy town centres despite large numbers of HGVs.’

A number of other highly commended schemes include the high street in Haren near Gronigen (NL) where a busy A-road intersecting the shopping district features no traffic signs or road markings- allowing for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to move along desired lines. Christianfeld in Denmark has also removed all traffic signals at a junction approaching the town, resulting in reduced approach speeds due to uncertainties over priority.

‘One of the keys to the success of these arrangements is that there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and drivers expect to meet pedestrians, and the paving is laid out to imply this is a pedestrian area,’ Phil Parker, associate director of Transport Planning Associates, told LGN.

‘The mayor system in France works extremely well for all communities albeit large urban or small rural.’

Some food for thought indeed for UK shared space...