Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland's homes: consultation

Annex D – Section 4 of Part 1 of the current Housing for Varying Needs design guide: The design of the surrounding environment

The clauses within Section 4 of Part 1 of the current Housing for Varying Needs design guide are set out in the table below.

4 The design of the surrounding environment

4.1 The needs

4.1.1 The design of pavements, road crossings and footpaths should allow for the needs of older and ambulant disabled people, people who use wheelchairs, people with visual impairment and people manoeuvring a pram or pushchair. This requirement will be met by compliance with the criteria given below and is also covered in the following publications:

• British Standard 5810, Section 6 [5]
• Disability Scotland Access Guide [6]
• Building Sight, Chapter 3 [7]
• Guidance on the use of tactile paving surfaces [8]
• Revised Guidelines for: Reducing Mobility Handicaps [9]

4.1.2 The local roads authority's requirements and specification will have to be met for all roads, pavements and paths that are to be adopted by them. The guidance given here is intended to be used in conjunction with that. The local roads authority should ensure that as well all pavements and footpaths allowing access to everyone, these are properly reinstated after repair works, as the uneven surfaces that can then occur are a hazard to many users.

4.2 Public pavements and paths

4.2.1 Pavements and paths should provide a step-free route around the neighbourhood. It is helpful for people with mobility problems if there are places along a route at which they can rest briefly. Paths may have a continuous slope of unrestricted length provided that the gradient is no steeper than 1:30. For gradients steeper than 1:30 but less than 1:20 there should be rest areas at intervals no greater than 18 metres. Slopes of 1:20 or steeper are classified as ramps.

4.2.2 Pavements and paths should generally have a minimum width of 1800mm, but a minimum of 1200mm is acceptable for short lengths or in paths leading to no more than four dwellings.

4.2.3 Crossfalls in pavements or paths are awkward for wheelchair users, as they cause the chair to drift or slip, and they should be kept to a minimum consistent with good water run-off, with a gradient preferably no steeper than 1:100, but a maximum of 1:40.

Fig 4.1 public paths

4.2.4 The surface of paths must be hard, firm, even and slip resistant; cobbles and setts should be avoided. Manhole covers, gratings, etc must be flush with the surrounding surface and any grille bars should be set at right angles to the direction of travel.

4.2.5 Paths should not have unprotected drops of any size at the edge, as these are a hazard to anyone. Where paths are not level with the adjoining ground they should have an upstand of at least 100mm at the edge, or a protective barrier that extends to within 100mm above the surface.

4.2.6 At road crossing points there should be a dropped kerb. Roads at crossing points should have a camber no steeper than 1:20 in the direction of pedestrian travel and a crossfall at right angles to this no greater than 1:40. The area in front of the dropped kerb should be free of any channel, gulley or grating.

4.2.7 The elimination of upstand kerbs on minor access roads and use of different surface treatments instead will assist disabled people, particularly those in wheelchairs, to move around more easily. However, a change of level at the kerb acts as guidance for visually impaired people and there is therefore a conflict of need in this regard. In the vicinity of housing specifically for wheelchairs users the preference should be for no upstand, but tactile surfacing instead to indicate there is a road. Otherwise, for safety reasons an upstand should be retained except at specific road crossing points.

4.2.8 Ramps and steps in public paths should be at least to the same standard as given in the Technical Standards, Part T. Where ramps are provided steps should be provided as well to suit people who find sloping surfaces difficult.

4.3 Street furniture

Street furniture, such as lamp posts, signs and post boxes, should not cause an obstruction or be positioned where it is a hazard to people with impaired sight. All furniture should be out of the line of travel but adjacent to the path or pavement. Bollards should be at least 1000mm high and of a colour contrasting with their background. Further information on the choice and positioning of street furniture is given in Building Sight [7].

4.4 Lighting

All access routes should be well lit, both for reasons of safety and security. Requirements for this are given in BS 5489 [10] covering road lighting.

4.5 Communal car parking

4.5.1 Convenient parking is advantageous to everyone but can be crucial to anyone with a mobility problem. For them parking therefore needs to be a reasonable distance from their entrance door and also needs to be always available for residents.

4.5.2 The width of communal parking spaces should generally be 2400mm. To suit older and ambulant disabled people, the width should be 3000mm which allows them to get in and out of the car more easily. Spaces intended for use by wheelchair users should have a width of at least 3400mm and preferably 3600mm. The increased width may be achieved with paired standard bays of 2400mm sharing a centre space of 1000mm to 1200mm.

4.5.3 A length of 4800mm is generally adequate. Some vehicles suited to wheelchair users have access from the rear and a clear space of 1200mm is therefore needed behind the parked vehicle in addition to the 4800mm length.

4.5.4 All kerbs alongside parking for wheelchair users must be dropped to allow access from the road to the pavement. It should be noted that wheelchair users prefer to get in and out of a car with the wheelchair on the road, as a pavement kerb prevents the chair from being close to the car, and that the wheelchair must not be on a sloping surface.

Fig 4.3 car parking