News

  • October 2026 – Representations have been submitted on the new draft London Plan. Overall, the policies treat inclusive design as a cross-cutting consideration affecting building design, public realm, housing, safety and transport provision. The key policies to note are:

  • MBUL3 Tall buildings requires tall buildings to address personal safety at height, including suicide risk.

  • MBUL6 High quality design requires coherent, legible and accessible street and block layouts, with inclusive-design review or specialist advice where needed.

  • MBUL8 Inclusive design is the principal policy. It requires development to respond to London’s diverse population, remove disabling barriers, provide independent and safe access and egress, incorporate evacuation lifts in relevant new buildings, and explain inclusive-design decisions and engagement in the Design and Access Statement.

  • MBUL9 Healthy streets and public realm requires accessible public spaces, including step-free routes, clear wayfinding and widths, suitable crossings, seating and shelter, reduced street clutter, public toilets and community involvement in public-space design.

  • HN9 Accessible housing requires at least 10 per cent of affordable homes to be wheelchair-accessible, 10 per cent of market homes to be wheelchair-adaptable and all remaining homes to meet M4(2). It also introduces accessibility requirements for student accommodation and shared living, wheelchair charging and communal facilities, minimum dwelling sizes and professional access oversight on larger schemes.

  • GHR11 Cycle and car parking requires accessible cycle-parking routes and disabled-person parking. Residential developments with on-site parking must provide spaces from the outset for 3 per cent of dwellings, while provision in otherwise car-free and non-residential schemes is determined through existing availability, national guidance and assessments of need.

  • August 2026 - The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in August 2026, places greater emphasis on embedding inclusive design within the planning and design process. While the previous 2024 Framework already promoted safe, accessible and inclusive places, the updated NPPF provides a clearer policy structure, strengthening the relationship between inclusive design, placemaking, community engagement and sustainable transport. It places greater emphasis on achieving high-quality environments that respond to the needs of diverse users, including disabled people and older people, and on considering these needs from the earliest stages of development. This reinforces the importance of integrating inclusive design into masterplanning, public realm and building design, rather than treating accessibility solely as a technical compliance exercise.

  • September 2023 - Kelly Rose, the lead Inclusive Design specialist, is accredited with the National Register of Access Consultants (‘NRAC’).