John Suico, CityLab How to fix the Bronx bus service? Ask the commuters Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful Using the context of the Bronx bus service the article highlights the value of consultation and involvement of customers or citizens. It…
Blog Archives
Health benefits of Play Streets
D’Haese, S., et al 2015. International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Organizing “Play Streets” can increase physical activity during school vacations Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful The study highlighted how creating Play Streets significantly increases children’s moderate to vigorous intensity…
Select Committee inquiry into Housing for Older People
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Government response to the Second Report of Session 2017-19 of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee inquiry into Housing for Older People Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential The Government response acknowledges the Select Committee’s recognition that…
Tagged with: age, design, housing, Independent living, older people
Posted in Accommodation, Housing
Posted in Accommodation, Housing
Age friendly housing design
Jeremy Porteus and Julia Park Housing LIN Age-friendly Housing: Future design for older people Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful In their words: “This book embeds the principles of how we should approach the design of future housing for an ageing population, reminding us that…
Why older people really move
PHASE@Manchester School of Architecture RIGHTSIZING: Reframing the housing offer for older people Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful “Despite common assumptions that most people want to downsize or enter specialist accommodation as they age, this report reveals that when it comes to choosing…
How to design unequally
ProPublica Original article by Lena Groeger Discrimination by Design Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful Sub-titled “the many way design decisions treat people unequally,” this article highlights some examples in social media and environmental design in America. The article picks out…
Tagged with: design, inclusive access
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment)
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment)
Living with dementia and accessing green spaces
Natural England: P. Clark; N. Mapes and S. Preston. Greening dementia Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful This is a literature review of the benefits and barriers facing individuals living with dementia in accessing the natural environment and local greenspace. It also…
Sydney’s tactile sign
City of Sydney from article in GovNews Tactile street signs for City of Sydney Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful The City of Sydney have introduced tactile signs to lamp columns and pedestrian crossing points at street corners which use both…
Kerb, what kerb?
Accessibility Research Group, University College London. Effective Kerb Heights for Blind and Partially Sighted People Publication date: 2009 Ranking: essential Commissioned by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), this research report looks at the effect of removing kerb heights in…
Shared space – DPTAC summary
Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) DPTAC position on shared space Publication date: June 2018 Ranking: essential This page on the Government’s website provides a summary of key reports and sets out DPTAC’s position. It provides some general observations and…
Tagged with: disability, public realm, shared space, Transport
Posted in Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Homes of people with sight loss
Thomas Pocklington Trust Daylighting and windows in homes of people with sight loss Publication date: 2010 Ranking: useful In their words: “This report presents findings from a …review of research on daylighting and windows in the homes of people with sight loss,…
How good is older people’s housing?
University of Sheffield, with PSSRU, University of Kent. EVOLVE Tool – Evaluation of Older People’s Living Environments Publication date: 2011 Ranking: useful In their words: “Evolve is a tool for evaluating the design of housing for older people. It is…
Scared spaces
Guide Dogs – Rachel Kitchen Scared Spaces Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful This report of a survey into shared space in the UK looked at the experiences of all road users comparing their views on shared space versus traditional streets.…
Building for Everyone
National Disability Authority Building for Everyone – a universal design approach Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful In their words: “… provides comprehensive best practice guidance on how to design, build and manage buildings and spaces so that they can be readily…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Case study 8: DWELL Co-design process
DWELL – designing for well-being in environments for later life DWELL Co-design process Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential This part of the DWELL project website summarises the participatory co-design research methods with local residents from neighbourhoods in Sheffield over the…
Fire safety in schools
Department for Education, (DfE) Building Bulletin 100: Design for fire safety in schools Publication date: 2014 Ranking: essential In their words: “This guide provides fire safety design guidance for schools in England and Wales. The guidance applies to nursery schools, primary and…
It’s a co-housing life!
Melissa Fernandez (Lancaster University), Kath Scanlon (London School of Economics) and Karen West (Aston University) for Housing LIN Viewpoint 89 Well-being and age in co-housing life: Thinking with and beyond design Publication date: January 2018 Ranking: useful In their words:…
Housing disabled people
Equality and Human Rights Commission Housing disabled people – Britain’s hidden crisis Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential In their words: “In December 2016, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) launched a formal inquiry on housing for disabled people.…
Tagged with: design, disability, housing, housing adaptations, Independent living, planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Accessible housing in North Somerset
North Somerset Council Accessible and adaptable housing in North Somerset. Publication date: April 2018 Ranking: essential North Somerset Council adopted a planning policy in 2016 requiring accessible and adaptable housing to be provided as a part of all new housing…
Tagged with: design, disability, Independent living, Part M, planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Rural Housing for an Ageing Population: Preserving Independence 1
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Care for Older People Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful Rural Housing for an Ageing Population: Preserving Independence (HAPPI 4) Report In their words the report: “The Inquiry report makes a number of ‘rural proofing’ recommendations…
Rural Housing for an Ageing Population: Preserving Independence 2
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Care for Older People Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful Rural Housing for an Ageing Population: Preserving Independence (HAPPI 4) InfoGraphic This infographic illustrates the key findings from the report. In their words the report: “The…
Designing with downsizers
University of Sheffield. DWELL – Designing for well-being in environments for later life. Authors: Adam Park, Friederike Ziegler and Sarah Wigglesworth. Designing with downsizers Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful In their words: “Downsizing – rather like much else to do…
Tagged with: age, design, down-sizing, housing, Independent living
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Urban Design
The Awkward interview – Alex Brooker
BBC Television Publication date: 4th August 2015 Ranking: useful The “End the Awkward” campaign looks at the way able people interact with disabled people and the issues that a lack of awareness creates. To obtain a copy in an…
Tagged with: awareness, disability, Equality Act 2010, Independent living
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
DIY access guide to music venues
Attitude is Everything Attitude is Everything’s DIY access guide Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful A guide for bands, artists and promoters on how to gigs and tours more accessible for Deaf and disabled people. The guide includes a quick checklist…
Designing for well-being in later life
DWELL research project, University of Sheffield DWELL (Designing for Well-being in Environments for Later Life) project Publication date: Ranking: useful DWELL was a multi-disciplinary design research project at the University of Sheffield. EPSRC-funded , the three year project investigated how the design…
Tagged with: age, Co-design, consultation, inclusive access, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Housing, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Housing, Planning, Urban Design
Dementia villages
The Guardian Publication date: March 2018. Ranking: useful Shops, cafes and round the clock care: life in a “dementia village” This project aims to construct a self contained community for people living with dementia in Kent. Modelled on a concept…
Do housing adaptations improve later life?
Centre for Ageing Better, University of the West of England, Bristol and Building Research Establishment Publication date: November 2017 Ranking: useful The role of home adaptations in improving later life In their words: “The review aims to provide evidence to make…
Housing our ageing population
Local Government Association (LGA) Housing our ageing population – learning from councils meeting the housing need of our aging population Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful The report contains a number of case studies which highlight four key themes: Having a…
Tagged with: age, Case Study, Independent living
Posted in Housing, Planning, Project Management, Service Provision
Posted in Housing, Planning, Project Management, Service Provision
Healthy placemaking
Design Council and Social Change UK Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful Healthy Placemaking In their words: “(The) Healthy Placemaking report explores the attitudes and behaviours of built environment practitioners towards healthy placemaking. The report makes a valuable contribution to the evidence base,…
Planning and healthy developments
Michael Chang, Town and Country Planning Association Securing constructive collaboration and consensus for planning healthy developments Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful The report describes ten workshops comprising local authority planning and public health teams, housing developers and stakeholders. The built environment…
Are we nearly there yet?
Sustrans Are we nearly there yet? Exploring gender and active travel Publication date: February, 2018 Ranking: useful The paper’s authors highlight how in their words “designing our cities to be more inclusive has stalled”. The paper describes how despite some progress, women continue…
Posted in Gender
Quick links – alternative formats
North Somerset Council Publication date: 2012 – 2017 Ranking: useful A useful summary of guidance on a variety of format and language issues to make information accessible for everyone. To obtain a copy in an alternative language or format please…
Tagged with: alternative formats, communication, inclusive access, information
Posted in Accessible Information
Posted in Accessible Information
NHS Estates design guidance
NHS NHS Estates design guidance Publication date: 2016 Ranking: essential Health building notes give best practice guidance on the design and planning of new healthcare buildings and on the adaptation or extension of existing facilities. They provide information to support…
Building better care homes
Care Inspectorate Building better care homes for adults – Design, planning and construction considerations for new or converted care homes for adults Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential – Scotland In their words: “This guidance has been completely revised in light…
Tagged with: care homes, older people
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Service Provision
Making cities better for women?
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Making cities better for women Publication date: 8th March 2018 Ranking: useful Originally produced for International Women’s Day, this blog highlights work by a number of organisations and in particular: the work in Vienna…
Creating better streets
Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places Reviewing shared space Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful A review of the concept of shared space. It addresses the statutory requirements on local authorities, Reviews existing schemes…
Government response: report of House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. HMSO. Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment Publication date: March 2018 Ranking: useful This is the Government’s response to the inquiry by the Committee.…
Intergenerational guide and toolkit
Belfast Strategic Partnership Intergenerational guide and toolkit – old and young getting along together Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful Provides guidance on intergenerational good practice and project templates to promote age cohesive communities. Download a copy of the toolkit or…
Housing for older people
House of Commons, Communities and Local Government Committee Housing for older people Second Report of session 2017-19 Publication date: February 2018 Ranking: essential The report highlights the complexity in dealing with housing for a diverse group who are often described as…
Designing healthcare facilities?
Department of Health Health Building Note 00-01 General design guidance for healthcare buildings Publication date: 2014 Ranking: essential In their words: “This Health Building Note (HBN) gives general design guidance for healthcare buildings. It provides an overall picture of the design issues…
Tagged with: healthcare
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Health
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Health
A Guide Dog’s LIfe
BBC Scotland Publication date: February 2018 Ranking: essential Crossing the road: a Guide Dog’s life Video highlights the lack of understanding by many drivers of the needs of visually impaired people. This video has a spoken commentary and English subtitles. To…
Cities Aren’t Designed For Women
Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Huffington Post. Cities Aren’t Designed For Women. Here’s Why They Should Be. Publication date: April 2016 Ranking: useful The article highlights the grassroots networking that is going on to improve the collective experience of women in cities. The…
How adaptations can improve later life
Centre for Aging Better, University of the West of England and Building Research Establishment. The role of adaptations in improving later life. Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful In their words: “Very little attractive, affordable housing has been built in the right…
Accessibility and adaptability of housing
Housing LIN Accessibility and adaptability Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful Here are resources on housing accessibility and adaptability of housing which are available from the Housing Learning Improvement Network (Housing LIN). Information is available on accessible and adaptable, new and…
Tagged with: design, disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living, planning
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
Standards make the world accessible for all
British Standards Institute BSi documentary – Building accessibility Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential Why are accessibility standards important? How do standards help designers? How can we make the World Wide Web wider? With a new documentary on accessibility, BSI Group…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Case study 7: Deaf Cafe
North Somerset Council Choosing a place to meet Publication date: December 2017 Ranking: useful Conversations about “work” happen everywhere all day, all the time which makes this case study about meeting up relevant to us all. Every month a group…
Tagged with: Case Study, Co-design, consultation, disability, meetings and venues, North Somerset Council
Posted in Accessible Information, Events & Meetings
Posted in Accessible Information, Events & Meetings
More designing cities for women 3
Lucy Turnbull, TEDx MacQuarrie University Designing cities for women Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful The video describes how women use cities differently and that designing for their needs is actually in everyone’s interests. A live English transcript is available alongside…
HAPPI in practice: designing for independent living
Tim Bell, Bell Phillips Architects, for the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (HLIN) Designing for an Autonomous Community – Bruyn’s Court, Publication: 2018 Ranking: useful Using the HAPPI design principles this case study in South Ockendon, Essex describes an inclusive design that…
Tagged with: age, housing, inclusive access, Independent living, self-management, visual impairment
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings)
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings)
Review of accessible hotel stock in London
Grant Thorton, Colin Buchanan, David Bonnett Associates and Inclusion London for Design for London (DfL)/London Development Agency (LDA) and Greater London Authority (GLA). Accessible Hotels in London Publication date: March 2010 Ranking: useful This report was commissioned to provide evidence to inform a new London…
Tagged with: accommodation, disability, hotels, inclusive access
Posted in Accommodation, Disability, Planning
Posted in Accommodation, Disability, Planning
