Flick Harris

Design for Access 2Accessible Standards

MDPAG: Promoting best practice

Registered charity run by disabled people Promoting the social model of disability Developing & promoting best practice standards

Design for Access 2 manual Design and Access Statements Better Access: image and reality Guidelines for Accessible Meetings and Events

Access audits, surveys, access statements, consultancy, projects, training, campaigns, information & advice

Link organisation for Disabled People’s Network, CN4M Advice on consulting with disabled people

Design for Access 2 (DfA2)

Co-written with Manchester City Council, currently MCC policy (not just guidance) & appendix to “Guide to Development in Manchester SPD - LDF

External & internal specifications for public buildings & housing

Clear specifications, not ranges, consistency for users & designers

Housing standards slightly larger than Lifetime Homes & Wheelchair Accessible Housing, London

Toilet design different from Part M, better circulation

Other MDPAG standards include changing areas, (babies, adults, children), shared spaces, crossings, parks, leisure, education, key routes, outdoor areas, Wudu facilities etc.

Inclusive Design in Manchester

MDPAG range of equality & diversity standards

Women’s Design Group gender based standards

Valuing Older People & Age Friendly City Development of networks for age friendly

standards - housing strategy focus on widening choice for independent living

Manchester City Council

“Manchester City Council's aim is for Manchester to be recognised as the most accessible city in Europe and we are committed to improving access for disabled people to all our services.

The second edition of the Design for Access manual sets out aspirational standards which will, we believe, help to promote exciting, vibrant and creative accessible design. It is also intended that these standards will be pro-active in the national debate concerning the statutory framework needed to secure access for all.”

Recent & current housing developments

Manchester City Council developments & adaptations, incl. Housing Market Renewal

Housing Trusts e.g. Wythenshawe Community Housing Group

Developers

Trying to maintain footprint, negotiate around internal specs, developers’ concerns about costs, leading to hybrid of DfA2 & Lifetime Homes. Developers want viability and sales potential + personalisation for buyers & residents who prefer more living room space to larger bathroom space.

Affordability, flexibility, sustainability Confusion between numbers & standards (cap option) Designing for the future: principles of Lifetime Homes,

Wheelchair Accessible Housing, London & DfA2, Manchester All houses should be designed to incorporate best

standards for all disabled people, but flexibility in actual build to allow for future simple expansion and adaptation.

Possible to design schemes to accessible house footprints, which will also allow for high density of houses and be affordable and cost effective for public sector budgets. (Ref. Jos Townend’s proposals)

Proportion to be built to best standards in each scheme

Integrate standards for energy, waste, water, lighting security and sustainability with accessibility Collection of information on accessible housing in

private sector

Commitment + Knowledge + Framework

Understanding requirements, incl. good standards, guidance & training

Designing for accessibility – involvement of professional bodies

Compliance – planners, building control, designers, developers, housing trusts, Design and Access Statements

Designing for all impairment specific issues, incl. mobility, visual & hearing impairments, learning disabled people, neuro-diverse people, people with mental health or health care issues

Manchester Disabled People's Access Group

www.mdpag.org.ukadmin@mdpag.org.uk

telephone: 0161 455 0219

MDPAG, Kath Locke Centre, 123 Moss Lane East, Hulme, Manchester M15 5DD