The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the National Disability Strategy, which sets out actions the Government will take to improve the everyday lives of all disabled people.
RIBA President Alan Jones said: “We have been clear that the Government should develop a framework to implement accessible and adaptable design as a baseline for all new homes, and we’re therefore encouraged by this commitment to reforming the framework, and ongoing consultations on raising accessibility standards, to ensure more accessible housing is built.
“To drive change, we urgently need solid timescales, plans and funding. Building Back Better must be built on a foundation of equity and enable us to deliver accessible, inclusive and sustainable post-pandemic communities. ‘Levelling up’ must be done in collaboration with the communities it seeks to serve, and so it is disappointing that the consultation failed to work with disabled people to design a strategy that will stand the test of time and is built upon concrete funding commitments. If the Government is serious about ‘levelling up’, it must undertake immediate action to put an end to the marginalisation and inequalities faced by the over 11 million disabled people living in the UK.”
