Inclusive Environments (L1M) Flashcards
What is the key legislation relating to inclusive environments?
The Equality Act 2010
What are the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010?
Nine characteristics protected by legislation:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender re-assignment
- Race
- Religion/belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Marriage & Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy & Maternity
What are the two most important categories in discrimination cases?
Injury to feelings and loss of earnings.
What is the limit to the amount of compensation that can be awarded in discrimination cases?
No limit!
What is Part M of the Building Regulations 2010?
Part M of the Building Regulations 2010 relates to ‘Access to and use of buildings, 2016’).
- Sets a standard in the built environment for accessibility
- Provides guidance on use of steps and ramps
What is the Equality Act 2010?
A law which covers everyone in Britain and protects them from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
When are you protected under the Equality Act?
- Workplace
- Public services (i.e. healthcare or education)
- Places that offer service (supermarket, shops)
- Transport
- Clubs
- Contact with local government
What are the different forms of discrimination?
- Direct Discrimination
- Indirect Discrimination
- Harassment
- Victimisation
What is direct discrimination?
Directly treating someone worse
i.e. picking someone for a promotion and not choosing the elderly person because they are “forgetful”
What is indirect discrimination?
Indirectly treating someone worse
i.e. putting a policy in place which effects someone with a protected characteristic and not someone without
What is harassment?
Something which violates your dignity, creates a hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
What is victimisation?
You cannot be treated unfairly because you have a Protected Characteristic or you are protecting someone who does.
What groups does the Equality Act 2010 not cover?
- Single, divorced or widowed people.
- Only those who are married or in a civil partnership.
What do you need to assess/consider when looking at a building and it’s relation to inclusive environments?
- Different physical and mental health issues.
- Factors which can lead to social isolation.
- Policy and legal requirements i.e. planning policy and building regulations?
- The value it can bring to building owners and occupiers.
Can you give an example of a public service which is not all inclusive?
The underground - only 71 out of the 270 stations are wheelchair accessible.
Is cost an element to consider in relation to making an environment inclusive?
- Yes, reasonable test within the Equality Act 2010.
- If it is financially unviable to undertake the work, then it is not reasonable to.
What impact can inclusive environments have on property values?
- Properties able to meet the needs of all are likely to be more valuable.
- E.g. a workplace would prefer to occupy a building which allows all their workforce to use it.
- Therefore, inclusive properties will likely see less voids, need lower incentives and achieve higher rents/values than those that don’t.
Under the Equality Act, who is responsible for ensuring environments are inclusive?
- The managers/controllers of let buildings.
- Those managing the building cannot discriminate or harass occupiers.
How does the Equality Act 2010 relate to property professionals?
Lettings or sales cannot be undertaken in a way which discriminates, harasses or victimises a person.
What options are available to a service provider under the Equality Act if an environment is not inclusive?
- remove or alter feature
2. Provide reasonable means of avoiding it
What does a “reasonable requirement” mean in relation to the Equality Act 2010?
- Effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person
- The practicality of the adjustment
- Its financial cost and likely disruption
- Finical and other resources available to the service provider.
Name a LPA that mentions inclusive environments in their Local Plan
South Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan (adopted Sep 2018):
- ‘In order to deliver a wide choice of high quality homes, widen opportunities for home ownership and create sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities, it is important that we plan for a mix of housing based on the needs of different groups in the community.’
- ‘Any development must take proper care to respond to its surroundings, and create sustainable, inclusive
and healthy environments’
What does the NPPF say about inclusive environments?
- Development needs to be designed to be inclusive - for individual, public and private buildings.
- Inclusive in that the buildings are their surrounding spaces can be accessed and used by everyone.
Why is creating an inclusive environment important?
Not only due to Legislation, but also due to improving and helping the lives of those who would otherwise suffer.
What is an inclusive environment?
One which is designed and managed to allow people with a diverse range of needs and abilities to access and use it.
What is the difference between Part M4(2) and M4(3) of the building regulations?
M4(2) = accessible and adaptable dwellings
M4(3) = Wheelchair user dwellings
(both are optional, whereas M4(1) visitable dwellings is a legal requirement for all new dwellings
Does your Company have a D&I policy?
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Why is diversity important? How would you ensure a diverse workforce in your company?
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Why is it important to have a suitable housing mix in a development?
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