Inclusive and Accessible Design

Islington Council has a number of policies aimed at ensuring developments are designed to be accessible to all who visit, live, work or study in the borough, including those with disabilities.

The Council actively promotes the principles and practice of Inclusive Design throughout the development process. 

What is Inclusive Design?

It is not a fixed set of design criteria but an evolving philosophy that aims to produce aesthetically pleasing, functional environments that can be used equally by everyone, irrespective of age, gender or disability.

It cannot be fixed and will evolve over time in line with advances in technology and rising expectations.

There are six guiding principles that have been set out by the Disability Rights Commission.

• Diversity and difference  - it should be recognised also that disabled people are not an homogenous group, even within impairment types people have different abilities, they are also black, women, gay, may have caring responsibilities or have English as a second language.
• Ease of Use - no one should be forced to exert undue effort, experience discomfort or a loss of dignity.
• Freedom of choice and access to mainstream activities - independent access should be available but equally support and assistance should be provided to those who might require it; it should be provided on the users terms.
  
• Quality - aspects of design incorporated to meet the specific needs of disabled people should be produced to a standard equal to that in the remainder of the development. Designers should, wherever possible, exceed minimum standards, to avoid impressions of meanness or double standards.
• Legibility and predictability - a planning issue primarily that will obviate the need for excessive text based way finding devices; rationalised floor plans and the judicious use of light, materials and finishes.
  
• Safety - environments must not only be safe but also inspire a sense of safety.

Standards

It is generally agreed that principles alone are insufficient, minimum technical standards are still required to guarantee a base line beneath which accessibility is compromised. 

Designers should go beyond the minimum requirements contained in Part M of the Building Regulations and, unless agreed otherwise, adopt the recommendations contained in British Standard BS8300.

Where a service provider has adopted the philosophy of Inclusion and followed contemporary design guidance s/he will not be exempt from the duty to make further reasonable adjustments but it is likely to count in his/her favour that they have adopted accepted current best practice.

Planning policies

The Council operates the London Plan policies:

4B.5 Creating an inclusive environment, which requires that developments:

• can be used safely, easily and with dignity by all regardless of disability, age, gender, ethnicity or financial circumstances
• are convenient and welcoming with no disabling barriers, so everyone can use them independently without undue effort, separation or special treatment
• are flexible and responsive taking account of what different people say they need and want, so people can use them in different ways
• are realistic, offering more than one solution to help balance everyone’s needs, recognising that one solution may not work for all.

That policy also requires that design and access statements explain how the principles of inclusive design, including the specific needs of disabled people, have been integrated into the proposed development and how inclusion will be maintained and managed.

3A.5 Housing choice, which requires that to ensure that:

• new developments offer a range of housing choices, in terms of the mix of housing sizes and types, taking account of the housing requirements of different groups
• all new housing is built to ‘Lifetime Homes’ standards
• ten per cent of new housing is designed to be wheelchair accessible, or easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users

Retained policies within the Council’s own UDP additionally empower it to produce and enforce relevant and appropriate design standards,

Standards and Guidelines

Policy H7: The Council will endeavour to ensure that all dwellings provide accommodation and living standards that are appropriate for the type and size of household that will live there, both now and in the longer term. The Council has therefore published supplementary guidance containing suitable standards against which residential developments will be assessed.

Site Planning

Policy D3: The layout of buildings and spaces on a development site should be logically and efficiently planned to ensure that access, functional, amenity and aesthetic requirements are met. In particular, new development should be designed to: iv) allow ease of access and use by all users.

New Development

Policy H10: The Council wishes to ensure that new housing development:

i) provides accommodation of adequate size and layout;

iv) meets all other design standards, including requirements to provide sustainable development.

New Housing and Changes of Use to Residential

Policy H3: New residential development and changes of use to residential will normally be permitted provided:

i) the resulting accommodation provides acceptable standards;

iii) the change would result in the provision of units which can help to meet local housing needs.

Supplementary Planning Documents

The Council has adopted two Supplementary Planning Documents to support these policies:

Accessible Housing (March 2009) this sets out the Council’s standards for accessible housing and applies to all new housing, whether new build, refurbishment, extension or conversion. This document, and further information can be accessed from the Accessible Housing Supplementary Planning Document page.

Inclusive Landscape Design (January 2010) The SPD sets out the principles to which any landscape proposal should adhere; describes appropriate working practices and provides guidance on the detailed design of a range of common features. The SPD sets out standards that will be enforced through the planning process. This document, and further information can be accessed from the Inclusive Landscape Design Supplementary Planning Document page.

In addition a range of nationally recognised Codes of Practice and other design reference documents are listed in the Design Guidance section, which is accessible by clicking the link on the left side of this page.

Plans and Access Statements

Plans and Access Statements submitted with Planning Applications will be expected to indicate how relevant standards will be met. For residential developments the level of detail required is significant; internal layouts must be shown and relevant services indicated. Full details on Access Statements are available by clicking the link on the left-hand side of this page.

For more information, download the Office of the Deputy Prime Minster's (ODPM's) "Planning and Access for Disabled People: A Good Practice Guide" document by clicking on the link below.

Further advice

The council's Access officers are available to provide advice on legislation, policies and good practice. Contact Emma Luddington or Clare Goodridge, in the Planning Policy and Projects Team.

Emma Luddington
Email: emma.luddington@islington.gov.uk

Clare Goodridge
Email: clare.goodridge@islington.gov.uk

Phone: 020 7527 2394
Fax: 020 7527 2731