Good design benefits everyone including people with disabilities, the elderly, and people with young children. The Council is committed, through its Equality Policy and its Key Objectives, to promoting equality for all citizens and to providing accessible and accountable services.

Part of this commitment includes compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, including the requirement from 2004, for all service providers to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access.

The Disability Discrimination Act Code of Practice on Rights of Access provides general guidance on good practice. The Council supports an Access Panel that offers guidance on new developments in the City from disabled service users’ perspective. The Council is also developing its own approach to best practice in relation to physical access, including the provision of design guidelines that exceed the minimum standards contained in the Building Regulations and aims to ensure the best possible access for people with disabilities into and around buildings and services.

The following guidelines should be observed in all developments where members of the public, including people with disabilities and other mobility difficulties, have access and, where appropriate, in other forms of development. Reference should be made to the current Building Regulations for details.

1. Car Parking:

(a) in surface and level multi-storey car parks, disabled parking spaces should be located as close to an accessible entrance, lift or exit point as possible;

(b) reserved spaces should be clearly denoted on the ground and by signposting;

(c) the overall dimensions of each parking bay must allow space to transfer from a wheelchair into a car;

(d) the pedestrian route to and from the parking space to an accessible entrance or exit point should be clearly defined; and

(e) wherever possible, reserved spaces should be within the covered access to building entrances.

2. Surfacing:

(a) all external and internal surfaces should be even, firm, non-slip and avoid glare in all types of weather conditions. Surfaces should be well maintained;

(b) changes in level should be announced by raised kerbs, low rails or the use of contrasting colour; and

(c) tactile surfaces should be used to identify pedestrian crossing places.

3. Paths, Ramps and Steps:

(a) pathways should be wide enough to allow wheelchairs and prams, etc. to pass;

(b) pathways should be well lit and free from obstacles;

(c) where pathways join or change direction splayed, or rounded corners are recommended;

(d) ramps should be a minimum of 1.8 metres wide and a maximum gradient of 1 in 12;

(e) a level platform should be provided at the beginning and end, and at 10m intervals;

(f) handrails should be 1.1 - 1.2m above a ramp, 0.85m above the line of the nosings of steps and should be provided on both sides;

(g) stair treads should be the minimum standards and be uniform. Open stair risers should be avoided;

(h) a level platform (1.2m minimum in length) should be provided for every 1.2m vertical rise of a flight of steps and at the top and bottom of flights; and

(i) warning grooves should be used at the top and bottom of flights.

4. Entrance Doors:

(a) entrance doors should be unobstructed, well lit and clearly defined;

(b) door widths should meet the minimum standards;

(c) there should be a minimum of 0.3m unobstructed space at the leading edge of a door to minimise the amount of wheelchair reversing and manoeuvring;

(d) thresholds should be flush and single steps avoided;

(e) glazed viewing panels can help visibility. Kicking plates should be provided on both sides of the door;

(f) easy grasp lever door handles (approximately one metre above floor level) should be installed. Doors should require a minimum opening pressure; and

(g) doors should be located away from hazards, and should avoid opening directly onto pathways.

5. Street Furniture:

(a) street furniture should be located so as not to obstruct the main pedestrian route and should be readily distinguishable from surroundings. Large items such as seats and planters should be distinguished by the use of colours and, where appropriate, raised kerbs or protective handrails;

(b) where obstacles are unavoidable, these should not impede or present a hazard to people with disabilities; and

(c) wherever possible, cash dispensers, letter boxes, stamp machines, telephones and car parking ticket machines, etc. should be accessible to wheelchair users.