The Impact of Legislation on University Buildings: Inclusive Design Proposals

Abstract

The importance of inclusive design has become to be recognised and from the 1960s onwards has been embodied in legislation and Approved Document M. There is now a requirement to apply the principles of inclusive design to new buildings and to alterations to existing ones. Access audits at the Universities of Bath, Essex and Kent have revealed that although attempts have been made to comply with legislation, these have not been wholly successful. In addition, case studies of two buildings at the University of Kent, namely the Templeman Library and Eliot College, show that a number of barriers to accessibility exist in both buildings, and recommendations are made that incorporate the principles of inclusive design in order to overcome such barriers. These proposals go beyond the minimum requirements regarding accessibility, with the aim of creating an environment that is accessible to all users, whatever their needs may be.