Project for Public Places What makes a place successful? Publication date: various Ranking: useful In their words: “Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that…
Blog Archives
Successful places and spaces
Tagged with: inclusive access, places, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Poverty, place and inequality
Victoria Pinoncely, Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Poverty, place and inequality – a policy paper Publication date: May 2016 Ranking: useful The paper puts forward the idea that place-based approaches are the best way tackle poverty and inequality. In their…
Tagged with: inequality, poverty, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
An environment for all ages
Kt-equal A built environment for all ages Publication date: March 2010 Ranking: useful Notes of a workshop held in 2010 looking at evidence that well-designed outdoor spaces can enhance long term health and well-being for people who use them regularly.…
Tagged with: age, Dementia, health, inclusive access, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Health, Landscaping, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Health, Landscaping, Urban Design
The weekly update
Physical health mental health or health inequalities is a key issue, not just for social and health services, but designers too. Our architectural and natural environment can play a huge part in how well we feel and…
Tagged with: health, inclusive access, Independent living, mental health, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Health, Housing, Landscaping, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Health, Housing, Landscaping, Urban Design
Dementia and Town Planning
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Dementia and Town Planning – RTPI Practice Advice Publication date: January 2017 Ranking: useful In their own words… “This practice note gives advice on how good planning can create better environments for people living with dementia. It…
Tagged with: Dementia, disability, friendly communities, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Shared space assessment
Paper by: Bart J.M. Melis-Dankers, Else M. Havik and Aart C. Kooijman (Royal Dutch Visio, Centre of Expertise for Blind and Visually Impaired People) Frank J.J.M. Steyvers, (University of Groningen, Department of Psychology, Groningen) Helen Petrie, (University of York, Department…
Tagged with: inclusive access, public realm, visual impairment
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Core design documents
Compiled by North Somerset Council Equality and Diversity Team. Publication date: December 2016 Ranking: essential These documents are the key ones which we feel underpin most design work from service delivery to transport, interior design or the public realm. Disability…
Tagged with: design, disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Tactile paving consultation 2015
Department for Transport (DfT) Interim changes to the Guidance on the use of Tactile Paving Surfaces Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential This document sets out the proposed changes that the DfT consulted on in 2015. It proposed changes to the way…
Tagged with: public realm, tactile paving, visual impairment
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Creating age-friendly cities
Houses of Parliament Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Creating age-friendly cities Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful This POSTnote from the examines how housing, outdoor spaces and transport can be made more age-friendly. As the number of older people living…
Tagged with: age, housing, inclusive access, Independent living, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Urban Design
Urban streets
National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) The Urban Street Design Guide Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful This US guide sets out key principles and practices used by engineers, planners, and designers working across America. Described as “a blueprint for designing…
Tagged with: public realm, streets, Transport
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Building better places
House of Lords Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment. Building Better Places Publication date: February 2016 Ranking: useful This report covers the findings of the Select Committee. The Committee commented: “(the) …cumulative effect of progressively diluting the capacity…
Tagged with: access, design, disability, housing, inclusive access, planning
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector, Service Provision
So how good is tactile paving?
Rodney A. Hunter, Hannah Consulting. Slip resistance of tactile surface indicators Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful This Australian piece of research assesses the slip resistance of tactile paving when wet and in varying conditions from brand new to very worn.…
Tagged with: disability, public realm, tactile paving
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
LLDC Inclusive Design Standards
London Legacy Development Corporation LLDC Inclusive Design Standards Publication date: March 2013 Ranking: useful This document sets out the design standards used by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as a part of the Olympic Legacy process. It develops the guidance…
Building dementia friendly communities for everyone
Geraldine Green, Senior Policy Officer and Louise Lakey, Policy Manager, Alzheimer’s Society Building dementia friendly communities: A priority for everyone Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful This report describes the views of people affected by dementia and their carers. It explores the barriers…
Tagged with: Dementia, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Playing out in the woods!
Forestry Commission England Design guidance for play space Publication date: 2006 Ranking: This short guidance note sets out principles for considering the needs of the people who will use the space. Using multi-disciplinary teams it aims to show how naturalistic…
An alternative age-friendly handbook
Sophie Handler; UK Urban Ageing Consortium | Age Uk | Royal Institute of British Architects | Age-friendly Manchester | Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing. An alternative age-friendly handbook Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful This handbook provides practitioners with a series…
Tagged with: age, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
People with dementia and the physical environment
North Somerset Council Equality and Diversity Team Publication date: 2014 Ranking: Essential (North Somerset Council) This document focuses on the public realm at both the local neighbourhood level as well as town and city centres. It therefore may be of…
Tagged with: Dementia, design, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Design Principles for Extra Care
Housing LIN Publication date: February 2008 Ranking: useful This fact sheet gives essential basic information about key design principles and issues to consider when designing and developing a brief for a new Extra Care Scheme. Case studies illustrate the variety…
Making your project accessible for disabled people
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Publication date: December 2012 Ranking: useful This guidance has been written to support bids for funding to the HLF. It looks at how it is possible to improve projects so that disabled people, (visitors, volunteers or staff),…
Tagged with: design, disability, heritage
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Historic Buildings & Landscapes
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Historic Buildings & Landscapes
The design of streets with older people in mind: 13 part toolkit
I’DGO Publication date: 2007 and 2012 Ranking: useful The Design of Streets with Older People in Mind is a 13 part toolkit; each part addressing a different environmental feature of streets and neighbourhoods. It is based on research undertaken by…
Landscape Design for Dementia Care
Housing LIN Publication date: July 2013 Ranking: useful This Factsheet is intended to be used as a tool to further debate on the subject of design for dementia care in the specialist housing sector. The principles of landscape design for…
Tagged with: age, Dementia, landscaping, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Landscaping, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Landscaping, Urban Design
Local Transport Note 1/11
Department for Transport Publication date: 2011 Ranking: essential This Local Transport Note (LTN) focuses on shared space in high street environments but many of its principles will apply in other settings. It places particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement and inclusive…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access, public realm, Transport
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Neighbourhoods for life Checklist
Housing Corporation Publication date: 2004 Ranking: useful This checklist gives a range of design recommendations to help housing associations improve the quality of life of older people with dementia in the outdoor environment. How to view a copy To…
Tagged with: disability, housing, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Housing, Landscaping, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Housing, Landscaping, Planning, Urban Design
Neighbourhoods for Life: Designing dementia-friendly outdoor environments
Oxford Brookes University Publication date: 2004 Ranking: useful The number of older people in the UK is rising dramatically, particularly in the age group of 85 years and above. As the likelihood of developing dementia increases with age, reaching a one…
Tagged with: Dementia, design, Independent living
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Planning, Urban Design
City health check
RIBA Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful Do our cities support healthy, active choices on a daily basis? Does the architecture and urban design of our cities impact on public health? In this health check the RIBA report compares three serious…
Tagged with: health, public realm
Posted in Auditing, Design Standards (Environment), Health, Urban Design
Posted in Auditing, Design Standards (Environment), Health, Urban Design
Design and access statement. How to write,read and use them.
Design Council (formerly the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment) Publication date: 2006 Ranking: Essential In May 2006, the government introduced changes to the planning applications process that brought Design and Access Statements into more common use . Though Planning…
Tagged with: access, building regulations, design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Planning, Project Management
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Planning, Project Management
Accessible Train Station
Department of Transport Publication date: November 2011 Ranking: useful This document outlines the code of practice for Accessible Train Stations specifically designed for disabled people. Covers all issues from platform design and access onto trains to information, kiosks, ramps, doors and car parking.…
Tagged with: disabled people, train stations, trains, Transport
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Rail
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Rail
Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors (I’DGO)
I’DGO project Publication date: various Ranking: useful This is a link to the valuable website resource funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a part of a project that was established in 2003. I’DGO has a longstanding record…
Tagged with: age, design, disability, inclusive access, Independent living, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Violence, Sexuality and Space Research summary
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Publication date: 2005 Ranking: useful Looks at how homophobic violence results in social exclusion in some geographic areas and the reasons why this occurs. Shows it is not just the way space is designed…
Tagged with: LGB&T, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Planning, sexual orientation, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Planning, sexual orientation, Urban Design
The smoking ban: Perceptions of safety on Edinburgh’s scene
Brunel University Publication date: 2008 Ranking: useful Evaluates the effects on safety of gay people in Edinburgh as a result of the smoking ban. Shows that safety of gay people is compromised when having to stand outside public premises and…
Tagged with: LGB&T, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), sexual orientation, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), sexual orientation, Urban Design
Homophobia and violence against gay people in public space
Maneo-Werkstatt 3 Publication date: 2008 Ranking: useful Report of a workshop by MANEO organisation on pan-European project to look at reporting and the way violence is treated involving gay people. Is useful for understanding issues relating to the management of…
Tagged with: LGB&T, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), sexual orientation, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), sexual orientation, Urban Design
Dementia: design and built environment
Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN) Publication date: updated periodically Ranking: useful Follow this link to the Housing LIN website which offers a range of publications and events on housing design and older people with information available on dementia. Other housing and care topics…
Tagged with: design, disability, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Access for blind people in towns
The National Federation of the Blind of the UK Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful This document sets out the general requirements of blind people and of trained guide dogs, in order to provide assistance to planners and designers who are responsible…
Tagged with: footpaths, public realm, visual impairment
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Disabled women in London: housing, leisure and transport issues
London Women and Planning Forum (LWPF) Publication date: 1999 Ranking: useful This is a report of a seminar held to examine the wider physical access needs of women in their local community. How to view a copy The report was available…
Inclusive School Design – accommodating pupils with SEN and disabilities in mainstream schools
Department of Education Publication date: 2001 Ranking: useful Published as Building Bulletin 94, it provided advice and guidance on how to accommodate pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream schools in support of Building Bulletin 91. The illustrated text…
Tagged with: design, education
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Advice on Standards for School Premises 2013
Department of Education (DfE) Publication date: 2013 Ranking: essential This advice is non-statutory, and has been produced by the DfE to help recipients understand their obligations and duties in relation to the School Premises Regulations 2012, which came into force…
Tagged with: design, disabled children, education
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment)
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment)
Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide
Dept. of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Publication date: 2003 Ranking: useful The primary objective of this guide is to ensure the planning system in England successfully and consistently delivers inclusive environments as an integral part of the development process.…
Tagged with: age, design, gender, inclusive access, planning, women
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Service Provision
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Service Provision
Disability Design Standards
Publication date: updated 2013 Ranking: essential The North Somerset Council design sheets summarise design guidance for disabled people and are based on national guidance, good practice and the views of local disabled people. They form a part of the council’s policy…
Tagged with: design, disability, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Public Places, Future Spaces
Womens Design Service Publication date: 1994 Ranking: useful Document provides an account of a study day organised by the Womens Design Service looking at to what extent contemporary models of planning met the needs of women and what needed to change to…
Tagged with: access, planning, public realm, women
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Gender, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Gender, Planning, Urban Design
Access for All Design Guide
Environment Agency Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful The Environment Agency’s own information on how to plan and deliver inclusive public access as part of their construction activities. It should be used by anyone planning to undertake physical works in the…
Tagged with: access, environment agency, footpaths, inclusive access, parking
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Highways, Landscaping
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Highways, Landscaping
North Somerset Equality Access Policy
Publication date: 2013 Ranking: Essential (North Somerset Council) This document sets out North Somerset Council’s policy for achieving accessible buildings, spaces and transport for everyone. It also addresses the related theme of accessible information. It provides a framework for the…
Tagged with: access, disability
Posted in Accessible Information, Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Service Provision
NDA 4 – Older people’s use of unfamiliar space (OPUS)
New dynamics of ageing, (NDA) a cross council research programme published by University of Sheffield Judith Phillips et al, Swansea University Publication date: 2010 Ranking: useful Older people are increasingly experiencing environments that can be unfamiliar to them. The research…
Homes for our old age – Independent living by design
Design Council, based on research commissioned by the Department of Health, conducted by the Women’s Design Service and the University of the West of England. Publication date: 2009 Ranking: useful The report will be of interest to those who commission,…
Tagged with: age, housing
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Housing, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Housing, Urban Design
The way we live now: What people expect from their homes
Ipsos MORI/Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful This research project has been commissioned from Ipsos MORI by the RIBA for the independent Future Homes Commission’s investigation into how the UK can build enough of the right kind…
Tagged with: disability, gender, housing, Independent living, women
Posted in Accommodation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Doors, Gender, Housing, Urban Design
Posted in Accommodation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Doors, Gender, Housing, Urban Design
Sign Design Guide
Sign Design Society and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).Written by Peter Barker OBE, BSc (Eng) and June Fraser ARCA PPCSD Publication date: 2000Ranking: essential The book is concerned with making environments accessible to everyone and addresses the concept of…
Tagged with: disability, signs
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Signage
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Signage
Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment – Yellow Guide 2015
Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABBT) Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential These are the updated Technical Standards which aim to provide simple guidance in an easy format. They set out the physical standards for buildings, their equipment and the good…
Tagged with: theatre design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector
By all reasonable means
Sensory Trust Publication date: 2005 Ranking: useful Natural England’s national guidance publication, written and designed by the Sensory Trust. Useful for anyone planning access improvements to public greenspace, it provides practical information on standards, techniques and examples of good practice.…
Tagged with: access, countryside, disability
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Landscaping
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Landscaping
Building Sight
RNIB Publication date: First published 1995 (updated) Ranking: useful Describes building design requirements for people with visual impairments. Covers both exterior and interior issues. How to view a copy Please follow this link to the RNIB website How to obtain…
Tagged with: disability, visual impairment
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Signage
Posted in Accessible Information, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Signage
Street lighting
Womens Design Service Publication date: 1991 Ranking: useful Short note describing role of street lighting in safety of women in urban areas. How to view a copy Please contact the North Somerset Council Access Officer. How to obtain a copy in an alternative…
BT Countryside for All
Fieldfare Trust Publication date: first published 2001 and updated 2013 Ranking: useful Fieldfare, under the guidance of the National Advisory Group, which includes organisations representing people with disabilities, countryside service providers, national agencies and countryside user groups and users, researched…
Tagged with: access, countryside, disability
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Landscaping, Uncategorized
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Landscaping, Uncategorized
