Inclusive projects

2. The built environment

2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 The built environment is important because in one way or another it effects almost everything we do, whether at work, at play, at home or when travelling. Without full consideration of people's needs, the built environment can exclude people from playing a full and active part in society.

2.1.2 The development industry is significant, as it is the vehicle through which the built environment is created, regenerated and maintained. It is also a substantial industry with an annual construction output of some £60 Billion, which accounts for 8% of UK domestic product. If it is to deliver well-designed and constructed environments that enhance the quality of people's lives, then it must conform to the objective and measurable principals of good design i.e. functionality, build-quality, efficiency and sustainability.

2.1.3 Despite the long-term adoption of these principals, the development industry still delivers environments that do not meet the needs of the whole community. By definition these environments are badly designed.

2.1.4 This is best illustrated by looking at how the needs of disabled people have been accommodated in recent years. Disabled people's needs are often considered separately from other groups of people, or after the design of a building has been completed. Solutions often consist of separate facilities, such as platform lifts or ramps for wheelchair users located on one side of a stepped entrance. Children's needs are often ignored altogether, for example, wash-hand basins in public toilets which are usually too high. Baby changing facilities are sometimes located in the women's toilet but not in those for men, preventing fathers from using the facility.

2.1.5 This type of design misses major social and economic opportunities and is to the detriment of all members of society. design, construction and occupation of buildings and transport infrastructure. This guide is therefore of general interest to all participants in the process.

2.2 What are inclusive environments?

2.2.1 Inclusive environments are those that can be used by everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or disability. This makes them truly functional, efficient and sustainable. If the build quality is also high, then these developments meet the principals of good design described above.

2.2.2 Inclusive environments are made up of many elements such as the attitudes of individuals and society, the design of products, communications, as well as the design of the built environment itself. Inclusive environments recognise and accommodate differences in the way people use the built environment and provide solutions that enable all of us to participate in mainstream activities equally, independently, with choice and with dignity.

2.2.3 An inclusive environment does not attempt to meet every single need, but considers people's diversity and breaks down unnecessary barriers and exclusions in a manner that benefits us all. This is significant because although society and individuals have invested heavily in enabling people to manage their personal circumstances effectively (e.g. by providing aids and adaptations for disabled people), many people remain unnecessarily 'disabled' by ill-conceived environments.

2.2.4 As a result many people are made unnecessarily dependent on others and are unable to take full responsibility for themselves.

2.3 Inclusive environments - the business case

2.3.1 There are three interwoven and substantial benefits in delivering inclusive environments through the development process. These are social/moral benefits, legal benefits and commercial benefits.

2.3.2 Considered collectively, they form a powerful business case:

2.4 The social/moral benefits of creating inclusive environments

2.4.1 Society has an interest in creating inclusive environments because an estimated 20% of the population, some 12 million people are disabled^[1]. Of these some 2.8 million disabled people of working age are out of work and receiving benefits. Over 1 million of these say they want to work^[2].

2.4.2 There are two further important points to consider:

• this percentage is set to increase dramatically over the next few decades, as UK demographics shift towards an increasingly elderly population. Indeed, over the next 40 years, the number of people over 65 is set to rise by 73% while the population as a whole is set to increase by only 10%^[3]; and
• it is not only disabled people who benefit from inclusive design. There are currently a further 18 million people who would directly or indirectly benefit^[4]. These include older people, families with small children under the age of five, carers, friends and relatives who accompany people with disabilities. Indeed it is fair to say that all members of society benefit to some degree from inclusive environments.

2.5 The legal benefits of creating inclusive environments

2.5.1 The Government is increasing its legal emphasis on the need to deliver inclusive environments on both new and existing buildings. This can be seen in a number of initiatives:

• it is actively encouraging the use of the Town and Country Planning system to promote and enforce the delivery of inclusive environments. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has recently published 'Planning and Access for Disabled People - A Good Practice Guide'. In simple terms the guidance describes how to ensure that inappropriately designed proposals are not granted planning permissions;
• in 2002 it consulted on proposals for amending the Building Regulations Part M - Means of Access to and use of buildings. The proposed amendments extend the coverage of the requirements and would encourage more attention to inclusive environments than previously required, including an access statement setting out the approach taken; and
• Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 gives disabled people a 'right of access' to goods, facilities, services and premises. These rights are being phased in from 1996 to 2004. From October 2004, service providers may have to alter the physical features of premises if the service continues to be impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use.

2.6 The commercial benefits of creating inclusive environments

2.6.1 There are very real and substantial commercial benefits to the design and delivery of inclusive environments. Four illustrative examples are given below:

• disabled people have an estimated spending power of £51.3 Billion^[5]. To this the spending power of their families, friends and helpers must also be added, which is likely to more than double this figure. This 'spending power' is of great significance to the commercial market. For example, at the National Portrait Gallery it has been reported that visitor members have increased by 20% since the addition of the Ondaatje Wing, which improved accessibility, circulation and other facilities;
• developments designed to be inclusive are likely to have an enhanced market value. The reason is that occupiers now favour accessible buildings during a selection process. This is because they recognise that inclusive environments are suitable for a more diverse range of people and are therefore more functional, sustainable and efficient. They are also aware of the commercial, legal and moral disadvantage of excluding such a substantial percentage of the population;
• it is significantly more cost-effective to provide for access at the design stage, rather than by making retrospective adjustments during the construction phase or after occupation. Additional costs can be marginalised or eliminated if inclusive design is considered at an early stage; and
• if a development is designed from the earliest concept stages to meet the needs of everyone, planning approval or building regulation consent is unlikely to be refused on the grounds that it does not meet appropriate access standards. This minimises the potential for delay, with obvious financial benefits. The implementation by local authorities of the government's good practice guide, as described above, will further enhance the risk of rejection.

Published: 17 June 2003

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