Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment

Supplementary Planning Guidance
April 2004

The Mayor launched the first Supplementary Planning Guidance to the London Plan on 27 April 2004. The guidance is called Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment and gives advice on how to promote and achieve an inclusive environment in London.

Following publication of the London Plan in February 2004 a number of Supplementary Planning Guidance documents are being drafted which provide more detailed advice and guidance on the policies in the London Plan. Accessible London is the first of these SPGs to be published.

The draft SPG was subject to a statutory three-month period of public consultation from July to October 2003 and has now been revised to take account of comments received. It provides detail on the policies in the London Plan which promote inclusive design and access to the building environment for disabled people, including policies on accessible housing. It will be of interest to all planning authorities in London, developers including house builders and housing associations, designers planners, access officers, and voluntary organisations, particularly disability organisations.

It has been prepared within the context of the advice and guidance current at the time of going to print but will be subject to an ongoing process of monitoring and review as the strategic policy framework, legislation and government guidance change.

Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment PDF
Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment RTF

An illustrated journey through an accessible environment - case study examples
October 2004

The introduction of the final provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in October 2004 has ensured that many service providers have reviewed how they provide their service to disabled people. As a result there are now some good examples of buildings in London where access for disabled people has been successfully improved. Although no building is flawless, providing information on buildings that have been made accessible can inspire others. A number of photographic examples of building elements have therefore been illustrated in this document, with the aim of inspiring developers, designers, and planners, helping to supplement the advice given in the SPG and assisting in implementing the London Plan policies on inclusive design. An inclusive approach to improving access for disabled people can help to eliminate discrimination and contributes towards the creation of an accessible and inclusive City.

An illustrated journey through an accessible environment - case study examples PDF (1.25MB)
An illustrated journey through an accessible environment - case study examples RTF (text only - 60k)

Lifetime Homes - case study examples
September 2006

This document aims to inspire developers, designers and planners in the provision of accessible housing and supplements the advice given in the Accessible London SPG. Meeting the principles of inclusive design helps to ensure that the needs of disabled people, older people and families with small children are integrated into designs from the outset.

These case studies show how five developments in London have addressed Lifetime Homes standards and the particular challenges faced when meeting the design criteria in inner city residential schemes. Building to Lifetime Homes standards provides homes that are more flexible, adaptable and convenient for all of us so helps to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and contribute towards the creation of sustainable and inclusive communities.

Lifetime Homes - case study examples PDF
Lifetime Homes - case study examples RTF (text only)

Wheelchair Accessible Housing
September 2007

The Mayor's Best Practice Guidance on wheelchair accessible housing provides advice on how to implement the London Plan policy on wheelchair accessible housing which states that at least 10% of new homes should be designed to be wheelchair accessible or easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users.

BPG: Wheelchair Accessible Housing

Monitoring the Implementation of Lifetime Homes in London
August 2008

As part of his commitment to delivering the homes Londoners need, the Mayor wants to ensure that the needs of older and disabled people, and families with small children are addressed by homes that are accessible and adaptable and able to meet the needs of occupiers throughout their lifetime. This research by Savills was commissioned by the GLA to assess how effectively existing London Plan policies regarding use of the standard have been implemented, and how consistently they are being interpreted across the capital.

Monitoring the Implementation of Lifetime Homes in London

Planning and Development

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