Presented at Habinteg's Homes for Living Forum, 17 September 2013. Flick Harris presented an overview of inclusive housing policy in Manchester, referring to proposals for the new UK Housing technical standards.

1. Flick Harris
Design for Access 2
Accessible Standards

2. MDPAG: Promoting best practice
 Registered charity run by disabled people
 Promoting the social model of disability
 Developing & promoting best practice standards
 Design for Access 2 manual
 Design and Access Statements
 Better Access: image and reality
 Guidelines for Accessible Meetings and Events
 Access audits, surveys, access statements, consultancy,
projects, training, campaigns, information & advice
 Link organisation for Disabled People’s Network, CN4M
 Advice on consulting with disabled people

3. Design for Access 2 (DfA2)
 Co-written with Manchester City Council, currently MCC
policy (not just guidance) & appendix to “Guide to
Development in Manchester SPD - LDF
 External & internal specifications for public buildings &
housing
 Clear specifications, not ranges, consistency for users &
designers
 Housing standards slightly larger than Lifetime Homes &
Wheelchair Accessible Housing, London
 Toilet design different from Part M, better circulation
 Other MDPAG standards include changing areas, (babies,
adults, children), shared spaces, crossings, parks, leisure,
education, key routes, outdoor areas, Wudu facilities etc.

4. Inclusive Design in Manchester
 MDPAG
 range of equality & diversity standards
 Women’s Design Group
 gender based standards
 Valuing Older People & Age Friendly City
 Development of networks for age friendly
standards - housing strategy focus on widening
choice for independent living

5. Manchester City Council
“Manchester City Council's aim is for Manchester to be
recognised as the most accessible city in Europe and
we are committed to improving access for disabled
people to all our services.
The second edition of the Design for Access manual
sets out aspirational standards which will, we believe,
help to promote exciting, vibrant and creative
accessible design. It is also intended that these
standards will be pro-active in the national debate
concerning the statutory framework needed to secure
access for all.”

6. Recent & current housing developments
 Manchester City Council developments &
adaptations, incl. Housing Market Renewal
 Housing Trusts e.g. Wythenshawe Community
Housing Group
 Developers
 Trying to maintain footprint, negotiate around internal specs,
developers’ concerns about costs, leading to hybrid of DfA2 &
Lifetime Homes. Developers want viability and sales potential
+ personalisation for buyers & residents who prefer more
living room space to larger bathroom space.

7. Affordability, flexibility, sustainability
 Confusion between numbers & standards (cap option)
 Designing for the future: principles of Lifetime Homes,
Wheelchair Accessible Housing, London & DfA2, Manchester
 All houses should be designed to incorporate best
standards for all disabled people, but flexibility in
actual build to allow for future simple expansion and
adaptation.
 Possible to design schemes to accessible house
footprints, which will also allow for high density of
houses and be affordable and cost effective for public
sector budgets. (Ref. Jos Townend’s proposals)
 Proportion to be built to best standards in each
scheme
 Integrate standards for energy, waste, water, lighting
security and sustainability with accessibility
 Collection of information on accessible housing in
private sector

8. Commitment + Knowledge + Framework
 Understanding requirements, incl. good standards,
guidance & training
 Designing for accessibility – involvement of
professional bodies
 Compliance – planners, building control, designers,
developers, housing trusts, Design and Access
Statements
 Designing for all impairment specific issues, incl.
mobility, visual & hearing impairments, learning
disabled people, neuro-diverse people, people with
mental health or health care issues

9. Manchester Disabled People's
Access Group
www.mdpag.org.uk
admin@mdpag.org.uk
telephone: 0161 455 0219
MDPAG, Kath Locke Centre,
123 Moss Lane East, Hulme,
Manchester M15 5DD