NRAC Conference
Coin Street Conference Centre, London
10th October 2018
Luke Turner
Principal Architect - Approved Documents K and M
Technical Policy Division
Building Safety Portfolio
Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
Update on Part M of the Building Regulations
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What has changed?
What’s up?
• Changes of names
• Change of Ministers
• What happened this year?
• What is government doing?
• Quizzing me on Part M
My name and role is still the same but following a year of change
we are now the:
Technical Policy Division
Building Safety Portfolio
Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government
And my email: [email protected]
What has changed?
Big picture
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We set out that we believe that
where you live, shop, go out, travel
or park your car should not be
determined by your disability. So
we will review disabled people’s
access and amend regulations if
necessary to improve disabled
access to licensed premises.
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Ministers
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and
Local Government
The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP
James Brokenshire was appointed Secretary of
State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government on 30 April 2018.
Minister of State for Housing
Kit Malthouse MP
Kit Malthouse was appointed Minister of State for
Housing on 9 July 2018.
.
• We work for the Minister
• Ministerial correspondence
• Answer official queries
• POLICY: submissions, briefing, speeches,
• Develop new policy
• Stay abreast of developments in techniques and legislation.
• Listen to the practitioners, the citizens and the industry.
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What do officials do?
Spot the odd one out
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What happened this year?
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• New Ministers
• Hackitt Review submitted
• BS8300 Published in January 2018
• Grenfell Fire Inquiry started
• Social Housing Green Paper and consultation
• Housing and disabled people: Britain’s hidden
crisis, by the Equality and Human Rights
Commission
• Scoping review of Part M with the Building
Regulations Advisory Committee
What did MPs ask?
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What did MPs ask?
10
What did MPs ask?
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In order of frequency
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• Changing Places toilet provision
• Shared space schemes
• Sanitary provision and access in shops
• Fitting lift provision into existing buildings
• Level of public toilet provision
• Height restrictions in public car parks
• Access rating systems
• Sanitary bins in men’s toilets
• Braille and signage
• Stoma signage
• Reach between sink and WC in hotel rooms
Part M related activity in parliament
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.
https://parliamentlive.tv/Download/
Index/604dcfcf-a1c1-4274-842a-
cd69bbc0e8ab
Part M related activity in parliament
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House of Commons
Wednesday 13 December 2017 Meeting started at 11.34am
12:25:41
Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond (Yorks), Conservative)
Mr Speaker today thousands of profoundly disabled children are denied the opportunity to enjoy a day out with their
families simply because there isn’t an adequate changing room.
The stories of parents at the Dale school in my constituency deeply moved me, so could I ask the Prime Minister to
strongly consider updating our building regulations to ensure broader provision and in the meantime to urge all
relevant buildings to voluntarily install changing places to give these children the opportunities they deserve.
12:26 : 14
Rt Hon Theresa May MP, The Prime Minister (Maidenhead, Conservative)
Can I say to my honourable friend that I think he is right to raise this very important issue, which might at one glance
seem quite a small issue but actually is very important in the lives of those disabled children to enable them to lead
the life that they want to lead. And I agree with him that the provision of Changing Places can make a real difference
to disabled children, but also to their carers.
I understand the Department for Communities and Local Government has been working to increase the number of
facilities.
I would certainly urge relevant building owners to consider installing changing places, where they can, and I am sure
that my right honourable friend the Communities secretary will be happy to discuss this matter further with my right
honourable friend.
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/eedcd1e3-589e-47b5-91ba-281d0bebb48b
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Part M (Access to and use of buildings)
Volume 1 - Dwellings
We have now started to
scope a review of Part M of
the building regulations and
working groups are uniting
around key themes needing
change and update.
Part M (Access to and use of buildings)
Part M related activity in parliament
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• Westminster Hall Debate: Accessibility of public buildings
for autistic people
• WEC inquiry “Disability and the built environment”
• UNCRPD examination and report.
(United Nations convention for the rights of people with disabilities)
• Changing Places Prime Minister’s Question
What happened this year?
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• British Standard BS8300 updated into two volumes.
• European Standard CEN/CENELEC “Accessibility in the built
environment”
• Mandate 420 now TC 11
• Department for Transport Inclusive Transport Strategy published
• Sector Champions celebrated their first year
• Inter Ministerial Group on Disability and Society set up
• Women and Equalities Inquiry continued
• Changing Places toilets. Now 1179 in the UK. 11 per month
• National Planning Policy Framework
Women and Equalities
Disability and the Built Environment
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• Launched in October 2016.
• Written evidence from 175 individuals and
organisations
• Evidence session took place on 7
December 2016. It heard from experts
including planning, transport and access
consultants, local government, architects,
designers, housing specialists, lobby
groups, house builders and disability
organisations
• An oral evidence session was attended by
Ministers and senior officials in February
2017
• Their report “Building for Equality” was
published 25 April 2017
• The General Election and the Grenfell fire
followed shortly after this
• The Government response was sent by
Dominic Raab to the WEC in March 2018.
• The Committee wrote in July 2018 with
further points. They requested a written
response and a hearing
• A written reply to that was sent on the 4
September
• A hearing was held this morning 10
October
Working Across Government
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Departments that have built environment and disability specific policies include:
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has responsibility for policies
relating to homes, places, buildings, planning, regeneration, high streets, community integration and
governance.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has policy responsibility for guidance relating to transport, roads and
streets.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) shares an active interest in older peoples and
adapted housing, in social care and in environments adapted for neurodiversity dementia and autism with
MHCLG.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) leads on “public sector equality duty” and the duty to make
“anticipatory reasonable adjustments” which are the main tools to factor in consideration of accessibility
beyond the Building Regulations. All policy making connects all Minister and officials to the PSED.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with DfT, DHSC, DoE and MHCLG are all involved in
improving provision of Changing Places toilets.
DWP’s Office for Disability Issues (ODI) champion progress by Sector Champions who lead within
industry and business. ODI also lead the Government response to the UNCRPD and act as the focal point
for disability issues, but they do not hold policy responsibility for policies relating to the built environment.
Working Across Government
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The departments with policies that also connect and help shape improvement include:
The Cabinet Office (CO) whose responsibility covers policies relating to construction strategy, building
information modelling, infrastructure projects (Infrastructure Projects Authority), public procurement
principles and practice (Crown Commercial Service), the Government Property Unit and for ethics and
standards setting amongst the civil service.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through the Industrial Strategy, for
example the Grand Challenge on the aging society.
The Home Office (HO) whose work on alcohol and premises licencing is often asked to become a tool for
licencing accessibility.
Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) through its licencing regimes for places of
entertainment and sports grounds.
Department of Education (DoE), has design guidance for schools and educational establishments.
Inclusive Transport Strategy
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DfT have issued an Inclusive Transport Strategy that halts new Shared
Space schemes while guidance on Shared Space is reviewed.
DfT have provided funding to improve the provision of Changing
Places toilets in Motorway Service areas.
Inclusive Transport Strategy
The government's plans to make our transport system more inclusive
and better for disabled people.
Published 25 July 2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-transport-strategy
Sector Champions
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New business champions to support rights of disabled consumers
Eleven new sector champions, who will help to tackle the issues disabled people
face as consumers, have been announced by the Minister for Disabled People,
Work and Health today (21 February 2017).
The champions, who represent a range of different sectors and businesses, from
gaming to retail, will use their influential status as leaders in their industries to
promote the benefits of being inclusive to disabled people.
The sector champions will amplify the voices of disabled customers and
employees within their own industries, increasing accountability and challenging
inequality. They will also be able to highlight specific changes and improvements
that will make a difference to the millions of people who often miss out.
Sector Champions
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The sector champions represent:
RETAIL MUSIC LEISURE
TOURISM HOTELS MEDIA
RAIL AIRPORTS BUSES
BANKING ADVERTISING
Hackitt Review
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Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety:
An independent review led by Dame Judith Hackitt.
Published 17 May 2018
Its purpose was to make recommendations that will ensure:
• a sufficiently robust regulatory system for the future
• residents feel that the buildings they live in are safe and remain so
It examined building and fire safety regulations and related compliance and enforcement
with the focus on multi-occupancy high-rise residential buildings.
An interim report was published on 18 December 2017 and the final report was
published on 17 May 2018.
The review’s final report which was commissioned by government following the Grenfell
Tower fire to make recommendations on the future regulatory system.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-building-regulations-and-fire-safety-final-report
National Planning
Policy Framework
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We have consulted on change to the NPPF and have since updated the NPPF this year.
We have also made changes in the revised National Planning Policy Framework to
change the way viability is taken into account in the planning process. This includes
consideration of disabled people in the built environment.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework was published on 24 July 2018 and
sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to
be applied.
This revised Framework replaces the previous National Planning Policy Framework
published in March 2012.
The planning practice guidance to support the framework is published online.
Social Housing Green Paper
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Social housing green paper: a ‘new deal’ for social housing
The social housing green paper – published on 14 August 2018 – aims to rebalance the
relationship between residents and landlords, tackle stigma and ensure that social
housing can be both a stable base that supports people when they need it and support
social mobility.
The green paper sets out 5 core themes:
• Tackling stigma and celebrating thriving communities
• Expanding supply and supporting home ownership
• Effective resolution of complaints
• Empowering residents and strengthening the regulator
• Ensuring homes are safe and decent
What’s going to happen?
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• Inter Ministerial Group on Disability and Society
• Women and Equalities Inquiry continues
• Planning guidance on housing for older people
• Part M research published in due course
• New research to support BRAC
• NRAC have asked for funding
• Progress on CEN/CLC JWG 6 “Accessibility in the built
environment”
• EU exit – 29 March 2019
Bandwidth
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Design principles
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Clarity Sensory Layout
Flooring Decoration Signage
Familiarity Acoustics Safety
Preview Lighting
Design principles
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DESIGN FOR THE MIND’S - 11 THEMES
Clarity: Making things intuitive, obvious, easy to work out.
Sensory: Making the most of the senses whilst ensuring not sensory overload.
Layout: Making it easy to find your way around in buildings.
Flooring: Contrasting tones to make the important things stand out. Taking care at transitions between rooms and
edges to floors.
Decoration: Using balanced, squared and symmetrical patterns are important to some autistic people, in contrast vivid
décor and patterns can frighten.
Signage: Size, viewing distance and trusted known symbols. Inventiveness in signage can confuse.
Familiarity: Avoiding surprise or change to elements in an environment. Some people navigate by triangulation
between trusted objects.
Acoustics: Control of noise levels in larger spaces and give access to quiet space.
Safety: Making spaces where people can manage their stress levels before it gets critical.
Preview: Giving views of what is beyond or ahead before you enter a space. Understanding what is about to happen.
Lighting: Needs to be controllable and adaptable in its intensity and position for a person’s needs.
What did people ask me this year?
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Spot the odd one out
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What did people ask me this year?
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• When are you updating Part M?
• Defibrillators?
• Thermostatic controls for showers?
• Mobility scooters in and around historic buildings?
• Sensor taps and under sink clearances?
• Steps on to a terrace or on to a balcony?
• Wheelchair storage provision?
• Lift car size and type?
• Change of use and material alterations?
• Maisonettes or flats over garages (FOGs)?
• Height of locks on a unisex WC door?
• Letter box positions?
• Kitchen worktop lengths?
• BIM Level 2 and building warrants?
Some recurring questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
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The odd one out
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• Changes of names
• Change of Ministers
• What happened this year
• What government is doing
• Quizzing me on Part M
