Tower HamletsInclusive Design Advice:Shops

Inclusive Design: Retail 2

Inside

What is Inclusive Design? 3

Why Inclusive Design isimportant in shops? 4

Policy Framework 5

The key Inclusive Designrequirements for shops 7

Examples of good and bad 10practice in retail

Further reading 19

Inclusive Design: Retail 3

This document is partof a series that sets outTower Hamlets approachto Inclusive design.The Inclusive Design advice notes will concentrate on thefundamental spatial issues that need to be considered earlyon in the planning and design stages of all new development.The advice notes are intended to assist developers, architects,designers and planning officers in determining if adevelopment has considered inclusive design in its proposaland to give them the confidence to make amendments.

What is Inclusive Design?Inclusive Design means designing in a way that aims toremove the barriers that create undue effort and separation. Itenables everyone to participate equally, confidently andindependently in everyday activities.

Inclusive Design: Retail 4

� Disability Discrimination Act (DDA subsumed withinthe Equalities Act 2010) legislation is primarily aboutensuring equality of access to goods and services –Retail provides both goods & services.

� The aging population. The Office for National Statisticsforecasts that within 20 years half of the UK’s adultpopulation will be over 50.

� Tower Hamlets has a statistically young population;within the UK population an increasing number ofchildren born with previously life-limiting conditionsare growing into adulthood. A recent report estimatesthat there are 156,000 adolescents (aged 16-19) with adisability living in the UK, 4,000 of whom have asevere disability.

� Enables everyone to shop with ease.

� Disability as defined under Equalities legislationincludes people with mental health, long term sicknesssuch as cancer as well as mobility, sensory andlearning disabled.

� Inclusive design requires consideration of all potentialrequirements of those using your service and that theseare designed into new buildings or alterations in aninclusive way.

� According to an on-line survey, conducted for theEmployers' Forum on Disability by disability charityRADAR in 2006, 83% of disabled respondents said thatthey had been unable to access shops or that they hadreceived poor service. Almost one fifth said that theyfaced obstacles on a regular basis when they wentshopping, 66% chose to shop where the service offeredto customers took account of their disability and 58%said that the shopping habits of their friends and familywere affected by their experiences.

Why Inclusive Design is important in shops

Before After

Inclusive Design: Retail 5

Policy Framework

National

Equalities Act 2010Civil rights legislation protecting disabled peoples equitablerights, including access to everyday goods and services.(1) Every public authority shall in carrying out its functionshave due regard to—(a) the need to eliminate discrimination that is unlawful

under this Act;b) the need to eliminate harassment of disabled persons

that is related to their disabilities;(c) the need to promote equality of opportunity between

disabled persons and other persons;(d) the need to take steps to take account of disabled

persons' disabilities, even where that involves treatingdisabled persons more favourably than other persons;

(e) the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabledpersons; and

(f) the need to encourage participation by disabled personsin public life.

This is the core duty under the Act.

National Planning Policy Framework

Achieving sustainable developmentResolution 42/187 of the United Nations General Assemblydefined sustainable development as meeting the needs of thepresent without compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet there own needs.

7: supporting strong vibrant and healthy communities, bycreating a high quality built environment, with accessible localservices that reflect the community’s needs and support itshealth, social and cultural wellbeing.9: replacing poor design with better design improvingconditions in which people live, work, travel and take leisure.

Core planning principles17. Within the overarching roles that the planning systemought to play a set of core land - use planning principlesshould underpin both plan-making and decision-taking.• be a creative exercise in finding ways to enhance andimprove the places in which people live their lives.

• always seek to secure high quality design and goodstandard of amenity for all existing and future occupants ofland and buildings.

• manage patterns of growth to make the fullest possibleuse of public transport, walking and cycling, and focussignificant development in locations which are sustainable;

• support local strategies to improve health, social andcultural wellbeing for all, and deliver sufficient communityand cultural facilities to meet local needs.

Inclusive Design: Retail 6

2. Ensuring the vitality of town centres23.planning policies should be positive, promote competitivetown centre environments.• recognise town centres as the heart of their communitiesand pursue polices to support their viability and vitality.

• promote competitive town centres that provide customerchoice and a diverse retail offer and which reflect theindividuality of town centres

Regional

London Plan PolicesTown Centres (2.15 page 63-66)

Planning decisions: Promote access by public transport,walking and cycling.

Promote safety, and lifetime neighborhoods.

LDF Preparation: Boroughs should promote the provision ofShopmobility schemes and other measures to improveaccess to goods and services for older and disabledLondoners.

Ensuring equal life chances (3.1 pages 76 – 77).

Strategic: The mayor is committed to ensuring equal lifechances for all Londoners…

Planning decisions: Addressing the spatial needs of London’speople and communities is essential to enable them to enjoyand contribute to a safe, secure, accessible inclusive and

sustainable environment and to ensure these are taken intoaccount in new development. Development proposals shouldhave regard to the SPG Accessible London and otherguidance produced by the Mayor (see pages 76 – 77).

Protection and enhancement of social infrastructure(3.16 pages 102-103)

Planning decisions: facilities should be accessible to allsections of the community including disabled and olderpeople.

Supporting a successful and diverse retail sector(4.8 pages 129 - 130)

LDF preparation and planning decisions: supportconvenience retail ...to secure a sustainable pattern ofprovision and strong ‘lifetime neighbourhoods.

Local

Tower Hamlets policiesCore Strategy 2010Strategic objective to ensure that retail contributes to thecreation of socially balanced and inclusive communities.Requires all new developments and refurbishments toimprove access inclusion.

SO4 to have a hierarchy of interconnected, vibrant andinclusive town centres.

Inclusive Design: Retail 7

All development:

� Everyone should be able to use the same entrance.

� Accessible via walking, cycling, public transport andprivate car

� Accessible parking spaces, cycle parking and taxi dropoff points close to development.

� Entrances should be level with a minimum clear openingwidth of 800mm, if site constraints allow a larger door ispreferable.

� Consider how the main entrance would be located bypeople with visual impairments.

� Automatic doors are usable by all.

� Are there any public toilets, including accessible toilets?Many people are prevented from going out by lack oftoilet facilities

� Internal level changes, lifts and stairs should beconveniently and logically located together.

Before After

The key inclusive design requirements for shops

Inclusive Design: Retail 8

Small

� The potential to secure a reasonable number of on streetparking bays, for blue badge holders and taxi drop offpoints within 50m of the development should beestablished with highways if the road network preventspeople being picked up/set down near the shop/s as thiswill adversely affect the inclusiveness of the access formany with a disability. This is a problem at Watneymarket.

� Level changes: In existing premises of a single storyconsideration should be given to installing a rampinternally/externally, steep ramps are a barrier toambulant disabled, in that case a portable ramp maybemore appropriate with signage to alert customers to itsavailability.

� Could a double buggy get through the shop door, if not isthere a safe place to leave it?

� Units under 30 Square metres may restrict layout and theprovision of essential staff facilities.

� How will the commercial waste be dealt with, could itcause an obstruction on the pavement?

� The provision of housing above shop units should notcompromise the rear storage space of the property asthis may have the knock on effect of pushing thecommercial waste out on to the pavement in front,which then creates an additional barrier.

� Where there is a level change between internal levelsand external discuss with highways if the pavementlevels could be adjusted.

� The entrance to a shop should be located to takeadvantage of any site contraints. See image at thebottom of page 11.

� Many people are prevented from going out, due to alack of toilet provision, consider a community toiletscheme - see further reading section.

Large

� Ensure that Service routes into the development do nottake precedence over quality pedestrian movement.

� Revolving doors are intrinsically not inclusive and shouldbe avoided.

� More comprehensive toilet facilities should beconsidered, such as Parent and child toilets,

Inclusive Design: Retail 9

� Changing places toilets (full adult changing facilities)http://www.changing-places.org

� Shopmobility, is a charity which provides mobilityequipment for hire, making access easier for mobilityimpaired. This facility should be actively pursued in areaswhere there is substantial retail development.http://www.shopmobilityuk.org/Index.asp?FontSize=80

� External seating is vital at reasonable intervals (at leastevery 50 metres).

Inclusive Design: Retail 10

Examples of good andbad practice in retail

On the next few pages are some visualexamples of what to do and what not todo (it is the issue I am highlighting thatmay be good or bad).

Inclusive Design: Retail 11

Substantial level change between pavement andbuilding. If the building is of historic character asesame lift maybe appropriate – the steps retract tobecome a platform lift www.wheelchairaccess.co.uk

A bell to call for assistance is simple but effectivecombined with a portable ramp. Some tonallycontrasting door furniture would assist people with avisual impairment.

This is the main entrance, with no signage to indicatestep free access or bell to ring for assistance!

The A board is a hazard for Visually impaired. Thesteps have poor tonal contrast and look ‘slippy’when wet (perceived problem for mobility impaired.

Entry to this shop is surrounded by permanent andtemporary barriers - a hazard for visually impaired.

Entrance to shop has small step which could havebeen avoided and it is a tripping hazard.

Door is not clear as window signage and interiormerge.

Examples of good and bad practice in small retail

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Inclusive Design: Retail 12

The commercial rubbish bin is a barrier andcombined with street furniture. It is an obstaclecourse for visual impaired and people with buggies.

A single step has been altered to give a short steepramp: fine for buggies but it could tip anindependent manual wheelchair user out off theirchair.

This illustrates how access is not always consideredwhen a shop is re fitted – the entrance could havebeen switched to the opposite side (where cafefurniture is) and level access would have beenachieved, or a shallow ramp could have beeninstalled at the current location. A ramp is onlyappropriate if it results in a shallow gradient seeabove point).

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Inclusive Design: Retail 13

This is a good example of understanding the site andchoosing the least difficult entry i.e.The entry to this pub is on the left rather than theright which has a step.

This is an historic building but the ‘Accessimprovements have not been carefully considered.

The automated door opens inward and all the stepshave hazard warning tape! The ramp is in the wrongplace, better to follow the external wall to the right.Pull the steps further into the building beginning atthe foot of the column.

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Inclusive Design: Retail 14

This shop at Whitechapel market has a framed doorwhich has created a tripping hazard. Door without anup stand should have been fitted. There is plenty ofroom at this location to overcome any gradientdifference between internal and external levels.

When viewed in black and white there is no tonalcontrast, even more of a tripping hazard if you havea visual impairment.

Modified entrance Whitechapel market. This works ifthe doors open inward and if people entering andleaving are visible to those on the other side of thedoor.

The shop front contrasts well with its surroundings.

The handle on this door restricts the clear openingwidth of the door and is tricky to open from awheelchair.

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Inclusive Design: Retail 15

A This Roman Road shop has overcome the difference between internaland external level with a ramp. However, the ramp's handrail restrictsinternal circulation space and would prevent wheelchair users andpeople with buggies entering and using the shop.

B Modified entrance to a chemist on Roman Road East. The door has beenautomated, the step removed by installing a ramp from the internal floor– the floor finish. The entrance is tonally different from the internal floorand lipped (this is important as removing one barrier could createanother if not detailed correctly).

This ramp on Roman Road enables step free access to this particular unit,the shop next door has made no attempt to benefit from this.

This Roman Road shop front has recently been renovated, and anopportunity has been lost to make it stepfree

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Inclusive Design: Retail 16

Staggered Automatic doors set at angles assists withclimate control and is easy for everyone to use.

See above.

This entrance is usable by all, but the manifestationon the glass is not bold enough. This is a branch ofBarclay’s bank, which has a very distinctive logo.That could have been used dramatically as a veryeffective manifestation, such as in the examplereproduced at the top of page 17.

Examples of good and bad practice in large retail

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Inclusive Design: Retail 17

The manifestation on this entrance is far more visibleand enhances the exterior of this building.

The automatic sliding door to the left of therevolving door has shiny silver building elementsimmediately in front of it. The material and itslocation make it a potential hazard for the visuallyimpaired.

The push pad should be well signed to operate thedoor as it may get lost in its surroundings. Asillustrated in this photograph.Assistive technology could be used to operate thisdoor enabling everyone easy access.

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Inclusive Design: Retail 18

This counter arrangement does not consider thedifferent needs of its customer. There is no lowersection. The only alternative is the staff access door,which is the correct height.

Parking facilities have a bearing on how accessible afacility is. The machine on the left is only usable bypeople over average height and the machine on theright is much more inclusive.

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Inclusive Design: Retail 19

Further ReadingBS 8300British Standards Institute

Sign Design Guidehttp://www.signdesignsociety.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:the-sign-design-guide&catid=10&Itemid=19

ToiletsProvides an overview of a successful community toilet scheme and a step-by-step guide on setting one up –http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/guidancetoiletschemes

Changing places toilets (full adult changing facilities) http://www.changing-places.org

Shopmobilityhttp://www.shopmobility.org.uk/

Olympic 2012 Inclusive Design Standardshttp://learninglegacy.london2012.com/publications/inclusive-design-standards.php

Produced by Tower Hamlets Council's Communications Unit • 020 7364 4274 • TD13744 • June 2012