Providing public disabled access for buildings is
a legal requirement.
This is required under the
Equality Act 2010 and the Planning Acts and the
Building Regulations.
A Design and Access Statement (DAS) is required to be submitted
with most planning and building regulation applications.
A DAS outlines how access will be provided for Disabled
people when alterations to buildings or new building work are
proposed as part of these kinds of applications. Though not always
required for all planning applications volunterring one when access
for disabled people is affected may save time clarifying detailed
points later.
This would be most applicable in cases of changes of use
regardless of whether any works are proposed.
If a DAS is not included as part of any planning or
building regulation applications your
application may not be registered and no will be action
taken until a valid statement is provided.
The statements are also useful to assist with the planning
of a range of works to buildings and services.
For further information on how to prepare the access issues in a
DAS we recommend the following documents:
- Title: DCLG Circular 01/2006 GUIDANCE ON CHANGES TO THE
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL SYSTEM
Link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/144854.pdf
- Title: Design and Access Statements: how to read, write and use
them
Link:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/publications/design-and-access-statements
For further information or if you require this information in an
alternative format contact our
Disability Equality Access Officer.
This page updated: October 2011
