By Denis Sheehan FIH
Grosvenor and The Crown Estate have today launched a new report that sheds light on the challenges faced by people with physical and hidden disabilities when accessing and working within buildings and public spaces across the UK.
The joint report, Inclusive Spaces and Places: A collaborative approach to inclusive design, highlights the urgent need for inclusive design in the built environment, emphasising the barriers that prevent millions from fully engaging with public and commercial spaces as well as the potential societal and economic losses this results in.
Limited accessibility impacts a staggering portion of the population, with one in four of the UK’s 67 million people living with a disability, and thousands more facing temporary mobility challenges each year. When combined with an aging population, the scale of the challenge becomes clear.
In response, The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, in conjunction with other major property owners, are urging the industry to unite in addressing this issue. Newly launched open-source tools created by the two organisations alongside those with lived experience offer the industry the opportunity to collaborate and drive real, practical change.
The first of these is an inclusive design brief which includes technical guidance and a set of prompts for design teams to embed inclusive design throughout the lifecycle of a project.
They have also developed a template for creating an inclusive design panel of people with lived experience which will be used across all new developments within their respective portfolios.
The organisations have founded a new working group – the Accessible and Inclusive Places Industry Group – to drive collaboration and change across the sector. Alongside Grosvenor and The Crown Estate, several of the founding members, British Land, Lendlease, Cadogan, Landsec and Heathrow, have already committed to the recommendations in the report.
Simon Harding-Roots, Managing Director for London at The Crown Estate, said: “This report highlights the barriers that millions of people face daily across the UK – ranging from those who live with disabilities right through to those with everyday accessibility concerns, like ensuring that parents with young children are catered for in our spaces. By launching a range of tools that businesses can implement within their own design remits, we are calling on the property industry to work together and create inclusive, welcoming spaces for all. This is a process that takes time, but with collective action and clear commitments, it is a true step in the right direction.
“This important work, the calls to action and tools are relevant for all buildings and places across the UK. However, in London we have a specific opportunity given the historic buildings we look after. Creating an inclusive, accessible and welcoming offering is at the heart of our London strategic vision and we are focused on supporting London’s renewal, to provide a diverse offering to a wider range of people and businesses.”
Amelia Bright, Executive Director of London Estate, Grosvenor, commented: “When we started investigating the issue of accessibility and inclusion in the built environment we found many barriers, but also a groundswell of interest in solutions.
“Working with innovators and those with lived experience we’re proud that the recommendations in this report and working group have already gained the backing of so many in the industry. This is an important step in delivering on our commitments to support community wellbeing and business growth, which will help our buildings and spaces become more welcoming and successful long term.”
Ade Adepitan, Paralympian and TV presenter, said: “Creating buildings and places that are accessible and welcoming is more than a functional piece of work; it is a necessity for creating inclusive and thriving communities. We’ve seen waves of change and progress over recent years but there is still much more to be done – every new development should consider the needs of all citizens, and people with lived experience need to be on the inside of design and decisions to really maximise the potential of inclusive design. Leaders like The Crown Estate and Grosvenor stepping up and showing real commitment in this area helps to set a new standard for others to follow.”
The creation of the report calls to action and tools closely involved those with lived experience across a range of characteristics including disability and neurodiversity. Workshop participant Michelle Goodwin added “The lack of truly inclusive spaces can make you feel like a second-class citizen. There have been plenty of times when I’ve tried to enter shops claiming to be accessible where I’ve been unable to get my wheelchair through the door. It’s refreshing to find organisations that are actually listening to the experiences of people in the real world, and going out of their way to make practical changes that have a positive impact.”
Read the full report, recommendations and access the tools here.
