Committees

Disability and the built environment inquiry

Inquiry

The Women and Equalities Committee says the Government must act to lead the charge in improving access and inclusion in the built environment. This should include public procurement, fiscal initiatives and transparently modelling best practice – and bringing the full range of work on improving access and inclusion in the built environment into a coherent and transparent strategy, with the Department for Communities and Local Government held responsible for making this happen.

The accessibility of our homes, buildings and public spaces is an issue not just for those of us with a permanent physical disability. With an ageing population, it is likely that more and more of us will experience reduced mobility in our lifetime. There are also other needs to consider, such as mental health. In this inquiry we explore the extent to which those needs are considered and accommodated in our built environment, and ask whether more could be done to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of both new and existing properties and spaces.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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9th Report - Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
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HC 631
Report
Response to this report
Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment
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Cm 9527
Government Response
Easy read version: Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
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HC 631
Report
Large print version: Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
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HC 631
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Oral evidence transcripts

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1 February 2017
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
Witnesses Gavin Barwell MP, Minister of State, and Bob Ledsome, Deputy Director, Building Regulations and Standards, Department for Communities and Local Government, and Andrew Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport.
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Oral Evidence
7 December 2016
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
Witnesses Bob Ledsome, Deputy Director, Building Regulations and Standards, Department for Communities and Local Government, Jennifer Peters, Strategic Planning Manager, Greater London Authority, Andrew Gibson, Vice Chair, Habinteg, and Nick Rogers, Design Director for Taylor Wimpey, Home Builders Federation; Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE, Andrew Hugill, Director of Policy and Technical Affairs, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transport, and Benjamin Hamilton-Baillie (at 10.30am).
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Oral Evidence
23 November 2016
Inquiry Disability and the built environment inquiry
Witnesses Steve Quartermain CBE, Chief Planner, Department for Communities and Local Government, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Chairman, Community Well-being Board, Local Government Association and Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Mary Travers, Group Manager (Plans), The Planning Inspectorate, and Trudi Elliott, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute; Clare Devine, Executive Director of Architecture and the Built Environment, The Design Council CABE, Julie Fleck OBE, MRTPI, Project Lead, Built Environment Professional Education Project Board, Simon Turton, Chair, National Register of Access Consultants, and Stephen Ware, Royal Institute of British Architects (at 10.30am).
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Stephen Ware (DBE0196)
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Mr Ray Blakebrough (DBE0039)
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Lewes Area Access Group (DBE0043)
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Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
3 published

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