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Disability design guidance

We recommend anyone thinking of improving access should follow our disability design guidance.

It is based on national legislation, accepted good practice and the views of local Disabled people.

Having users' views ensures designs are practical, workable and sustainable as they include what people want.

Alternatively, meeting minimum standards tends to only offer short-term gains.

In these cases, further works are inevitable as buildings soon become outdated as they fail to meet expectations and changing legislation standards such as those set by the Disability Discrimination Act.

Our guidance comes in the form of our Access Strategy for Disabled People and technical guidance documents.

They set out our access policy and recommended design and technical guidance on providing physical access outlining the following key areas:

  • How we approach the selection and use of our own buildings
  • How we advise others on planning and building standard issues - For example, businesses or individuals
  • What technical guidance we use
  • How we consult with Disabled people on access issues
  • How we will present information to you

We also suggest you read the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment's (CABE) Inclusive Project Management Guide.

For a text only version please download the Text version - Inclusive Project Management Guide.

To access our Access Strategy for Disabled People please use the following links where the strategy is followed by a text only version:

To access our technical guidance documents please use the following links where each document is followed by a text only version:

For further information or if require this information in an alternative format contact our Access Officer for Disabled People on 01934 634 989.

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