Inclusive Environments

Question 1

What is an inclusive environment?

Answer 1

• An environment designed & managed to allow people with a diverse range of needs and abilities to access and use it.

An environment can mean - building / place including homes, workplaces, shops.

Question 1

How can environments ensure inclusivity throughout the property lifecycle?

Answer 1

• Design / refurbishment - consider accessibility from various users’ perspectives, physically and socially.
• Occupancy - owners, occupiers and managers must ensure users can reasonably do so despite disabilities.

Question 2

What are factors that individuals in responsibility must be aware of?

Answer 2

• Physical and mental health issues - varying accessibility requirements.
• Factors leading to social isolation.
• Policy & legal requirements - local planning policies, building regulations, Equality Act 2010 and H&S law.
• Best practices in design and management of spaces.
• The value to owners and occupiers.

Question 3

What is the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 3

Consolidates discrimination law and provides protection against discrimination and inequality, including the use of property as well as when dealing with people.

Question 4

What are the four types of illegal discrimination under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 4

1. Direct discrimination
2. Indirect discrimination
3. Harassment
4. Victimisation

Question 5

Who is obligated under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 5

1. All controllers of let premises.
2. Building managers.
3. Letting / sale / assignment and other forms of disposal cannot be undertaken in a way that would discriminate / harass / victimise a person.
4. LL needs to insure when dealing with a tenant or occupier with a protected characteristic it’s in accordance with the Act.

Question 6

Reasonable adjustments

Answer 6

Extends the existing requirement to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled people if they would be placed at a substantial disadvantage if the work wasn’t carried out.

• Either through physical access or services provided.

Service providers have a duty to make alterations to a building to avoid discrimination or make an alternative provision of the service. These must be reasonable in cost, extent and disruption

The service provider has to:

• Remove or alter the feature
• Or provide reasonable means of avoiding the obstacle or reasonable alternative access to the service

Question 7

What are tests for reasonableness?

Answer 7

1. Effectiveness
2. Practicality
3. Cost and disruption
4. Financial and other resources available to the service provider

Question 8

Access Statement / Audit

Answer 8

• Details of access arrangements and alternative arrangements if access can’t be reasonably provided
• Most requirements embedded in Part M of the Building Regs

Question 9

What is meant by the term inclusive design?

Answer 9

Design to enable people with diverse needs to use the built environment in a dignified, equal & intuitive way