Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of minimum (a) kerb heights and (b) levels of provision of crossings required for shared space schemes.

The Department’s guidance on shared space, Local Transport Note 1/11 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shared-space), includes advice on the use of kerbs and provision of crossings.

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation recently published its review of shared space schemes, which makes recommendations to Government for further work (www.ciht.org.uk/en/knowledge/streets-and-transport-in-the-urban-environment/index.cfm) including in relation to kerb heights and crossings. The Department is considering these recommendations.

Local authorities are responsible for the design of their streets. It is for them to ensure any public realm scheme, including a shared space, is inclusive and meets the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.