Publications:
Commitment to Inclusive Design

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Foreword

There are over 10 million disabled people in the United Kingdom. It is not just disabled people who find our built environment difficult to use. Parents with young children, holidaymakers with heavy luggage and everyone at some point in time has come across an environment that has excluded them from something they want to do, and can reasonably expect to do safely and easily.

The characteristics of a built environment that everyone can access and benefit from are pretty straightforward. They sum up an environment that is good to live in, good to work in, good to shop in and good to travel through - an environment that is not just good for most people, but is good for everyone; an environment that works for people, not against them.

An environment that fully includes disabled people is one that facilitates their equal participation in society, fulfils an expectation of choice and control and enables independent living. Much of our built environment does not enable disabled people to visit their friends and family and does not allow disabled people to do most of the things that everyone else takes for granted. It is a simple fact of life that virtually everyone will experience the effects of inadequate design at some point in their life - perhaps after breaking a leg playing football, or most likely as the effects of ageing take hold.

The principles of inclusive design benefit all of us. This document sets down a straightforward set of principles that can be incorporated into a wide range of policies and practices. It also provides clear guidance that will ensure that these principles will be delivered in new projects large and small. Inclusive design is one of the keys to future proofing our built environment. We need to start now, not just because we have a long way to go, but because we will all benefit at some time in our lives.

Jon Rouse
Chief Executive, The Housing Corporation

"Inclusive design is design that creates an environment where everyone can access and benefit from the full range of opportunities available to members of society. It aims to remove barriers that create undue effort, separation or special treatment, and enables everyone regardless of disability, age, or gender to participate equally, confidently and independently in mainstream activities with choice and dignity."

A fully inclusive built environment is one which:

  • Provides equitable access
  • Allocates appropriate space for people
  • Ensures ease of use, comprehension and understanding
  • Requires minimal stress, physical strength and effort
  • Achieves safe, comfortable and healthy environments

All our projects and practices will abide by the following DPTAC principles:

  • Accessibility for disabled people is a condition of any investment
  • Accessibility for disabled people must be a mainstream activity
  • Disabled people should be involved in determining accessibility
  • Accessibility for disabled people is the responsibility of the provider

To achieve this we have agreed to implement the following practice statement.

Practice Statement

Internal Actions - We shall:

1. Establish and implement an internal quality assurance system to ensure compliance with the principles of inclusive design.

2. Designate a practice member with responsibility for the practices commitment to inclusive design.

3. Ensure that all our staff undertake appropriate training and personal and professional development including regular CPD so that they have a thorough understanding of the processes needed to implement the principles of inclusive design and that they keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

4. Be proactive in involving disabled people as employees, as professional access consultants and as building users.

5. Regularly review our policies, practices and procedures to ensure that the principles of inclusive design continue to inform all our work.

6. Maintain an up to date library of legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and good practice guidance on all aspects of inclusive design.

External Actions - We shall:

1. For all projects recommend that the developer or client has an access consultant or access champion.

2. Ensure that the project team works closely with the access consultant and/or inclusive design/access champion at all stages of the project.

3. Ensure inclusive design principles are incorporated at every stage of a project, from initial concept to development brief or master plan through to detailed design, construction, completion and on handover.

4. Encourage disabled people to be involved at every stage of the project by working with organisations of disabled people, local access groups and/or forums of disabled people set up to engage on a particular project.

5. Specify inclusive products that are useable by everyone.

6. Architects must provide suf.cient information through the specifcation process for the handover book which, in turn, will inform the facilities manager regarding the maintenance manual and any necessary training.

Useful Web Links

Inclusive Projects
dptac.independent.gov.uk/pubs/inclusive/guide/index.htm

Planning and Access for Disabled People "A Good Practice Guide" ODPM 2003
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningaccess

Building Regulations 2000 Access to and Use of Buildings Approved Document M (2004 edition)
www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partm/

Equality and Human Rights Commission Guidance
Access Statements: 'achieving an inclusive environment by ensuring continuity through the planning, design and management of building and spaces'. www.equalityhumanrights.com

Process of Implementing the Principles

RIBA StageDeliverables

A/B

Audit Existing Building(s)

Feasibility Study of Client's Requirements

Strategic Design Brief

1. Access Strategy

  • The Access Strategy will incorporate ID principles at all RIBA work stages.
  • It will set out a process to embed and implement inclusive design principles commencing from the design brief.

For Small projects:

  • Designate an Inclusive Design champion or representative.

For Medium to Large projects:

  • Appoint an Access Consultant.
  • Ensure the project team and the client's appointed access consultant work closely together.
  • Identify key access requirements and constraints.

Access Strategy

To demonstrate a commitment to including ID principles.

To set out a process suited to the project.

C/D

Project Brief Outline and Detailed Design

2. Access Statements

  • Incorporate key access requirements into design proposals.
  • Consult with potential users including disabled people.
  • Incorporate key access requirements into design proposals.
  • Provide an Access Statement to support outline and detailed Planning Applications.

Access Statement

For Planning Approval.

E/F

Final Proposals and Production Information

3. Building Control Submission

  • Monitor and review design development, including fixtures and fittings.
  • Ensure designers and suppliers specify products which can be used by all.
  • Provide an Access Statement to support Building Control submission for Part M approval.

Access Statement

For Building Control Approval.

G/H

Tender

4. Procuring Accessibility

  • Ensure ID details are incorporated into the contract documentation for the buildings, fixtures and fittings.
  • Appraise any novated design in response to access procurement.

K

Construction

5. Monitoring progress

  • Ensure compliance with Access Statement by monitoring all key access features during the construction period.

L

Practical Completion

6. Sign-off report

  • Audit completed building and check agreed standards have been met.
  • Identify post occupancy matters for inclusion in Facilities Management Handbook and Maintenance Manuals.

Access Statement

For Passing Access file to Client.

Review

Post Occupation

7. On-going

  • Provide suitable information where necessary for staff briefings, including circulation and escape arrangements.

Access Review

For Access Awareness and Training.