The UK Department for Transport published it's 'Local Transport Note 1/11 - Shared Space' in October 2011 which gives advice on the design of Shared Spaces.

The desirability of Shared Space as a general concept has been widely accepted by those working in the various professions relating to the planning and design of the urban realm. However the design of Shared Spaces has presented some dificulties for designers in ensuring that the application of shared space principles do not result in the exclusion of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

Some of these dificulties have related to the term 'Shared Spaces' being applied to a number of different proposals (e.g. street de-cluttering, 'naked streets', etc.) for improving urban areas. These approaches differed on their prescription for improving the urban realm and streetscapes. Some of the suggestions were compatible with each other, but others were less so. The inconsistent views on what changes to the way streets etc. are designed resulted in different interpretations and views being transposed into some early designs. These early projects highlighted a certain lack of consistency in design approach and raised concerns that some members of the community would struggle to safely use these areas - effectively excluding them from independent movement within our public areas and counter to the general trends in catering for mobility and visually impaired road users.

Concerns had been expressed by, among others, bodies representing the visually impaired. The concerns raised included dificulties in safely navigating an area which in-part, and by explicit design, relies on eye-contact between users to negotiate right-of-way. This, nearly by definition, could lead to problems for those with sight impairment. The lack of defined 'crossings' within shared spaces also contributed to concerns held by those representing vulnerable users.

Another area where dificulties were experienced relates to the transition between a shared surface and a conventional road/street with segregated areas for different road users. The need to ensure that all road users were aware of the transition, the altered environment that they were entering and of the need to adopt different behaviours to safely navigate the new area.

Local Transport Note 1/11 - Shared Space provides a summary of the various concepts and issues associated with Shared Spaces, clarifies & introduces definitions for elements of shared areas (e.g. 'Level Surfaces', 'Comfort Space') and reports on the experience of schemes which have been implemented, including drawing some conclusions on what approaches have worked best in certain circumstances.