6. Access to and use of buildings

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01903 221065

planning@worthing.gov.uk

Technical Guidance Note 6 : Access to and use of buildings

It is the policy of Worthing Borough Council to promote access for all people throughout the Borough.

This must include not only access into a building but also access around the building.  The design of a building should include a general consideration for the needs of the disabled.

It is not just buildings that can form a "barrier" to access and movement.  Footpaths, kerbs, stairs, ramps and car parking should all be designed to allow access and not prevent it.

If you are thinking about alterations to your shop or office, or are involved in the development or design of a new building, please think about people with disabilities from the outset.  Very often the difficulties encountered by the disabled are simply the result of a lack of thought at the design stage.  The development costs are unlikely to be increased if you design for access from the beginning.

DISABILITY - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

It is important to recognise that "disability" can take many forms and many of the obstacles to movement can be removed if we apply a little effort or thought.  Most people associate disability with wheelchairs and the wheelchair is certainly an obvious symbol of disability.  However, recent estimates indicate that one household in seven in Great Britain includes someone who is disabled in one or more ways.

• 4.3 million people either cannot walk or have difficulty walking.
• 2.6 million people are either deaf or have hearing problems.
• 1.7 million people have visual impairment.

An environment that is accessible for people with disabilities will also be more comfortable and friendly for parents with pushchairs or prams and shoppers with trolleys.

Improving access for people with disabilities will remove barriers that restrict everyone's mobility.

ACCESS OFFICER

Worthing Borough Council has an Access Officer to act in a co-ordinating role within the Borough and to offer advice to people considering erecting or altering buildings.

The Access Officer is the Manager of the Building Control Group Mr Tony Downes.

PART M - BUILDING REGULATIONS

The legal requirements are contained in Part M of the Building Regulations 2004, and are administered by the Building Control Group.

The requirements of Part M now apply if:

1. a non-domestic building or a dwelling is newly erected;
2. an existing non-domestic building is extended, or undergoes a material alteration; or
3. an existing building or part of an existing building undergoes a material change of use to           hotel or boarding house, institution, public building or shop.

It should be noted that, regardless of compliance with Building Regulations, there will be obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for service providers and employers to consider barriers created by physical features in buildings.

There is no exception for historic buildings, but Approved Document M contains guidance on such buildings. The guidance draws on the recommendations of British Standards BS 8300:2001 ‘Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people- Code of Practice’.

Part M requires that suitable means of access and a reasonable number of sanitary conveniences for use by disabled people must be provided to all new buildings.

Full details can be obtained from the Worthing Borough Council's Building Control Group.

GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPERS AND ARCHITECTS

If you wish to discuss any matter in connection with "Access to and use of buildings" please contact:

Building Control Group                   Tel: 01903 221344
Planning Section                              E-mail: building.control@worthing.gov.uk
Portland House                               Fax: 01903 207365
Richmond Road                              Minicom: 01903 204500
Worthing                                         Answerphone: 01903 214034
West Sussex
BN11 1LF

USEFUL ORGANISATIONS

Diasbled Living Foundation
380-384 Harrow Road
London
W9 2HU

Helpline: 0845 130 9177 (textphone 020 7432 8009)
email: info@dlf.org.uk
Switchboard: 020 7289 6111

__________________________________________

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf
19-23 Featherstone Street
London
EC1Y 8SL

Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textephone: 0808 808 9000
Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk

__________________________________________

Radar
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London
EC1V 8AF

Telephone: 020 7250 3222
Fax: 020 7250 0212
Minicom: 020 7250 4119
Email: radar@radar.org.uk

__________________________________________

Royal National Institute for the Blind
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE

Telephone: 020 7388 1266
Fax: 020 7388 2034

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