Planning for an Accessible Environment

The council has adopted its own statutory development plan policies to guide developers seeking planning permission. These are applied, together with specialist advice on how designs and standards can allow disabled people to have access, to planning applications submitted to the council for approval.

Developers and people who need planning permission to change the use of buildings, alter or extend buildings or the car parks or other spaces around them, or lay out new streets, paths or open uses, are required to conform to Swindon Borough Council’s statutory Development Plan . They are helped to know how their plans and designs should be cater for disabled people, by clear local policies and guidance – how to plan access for all.

Planning to Make Council Services Accessible

The local council has had a policy since 1966 to design its new public buildings so that disabled people can get use of them, and for over 15 years, there have been budgets to update and improve its older buildings. Currently there are over 260 borough buildings - schools and, social services, community, recreation and office buildings - which the public use every day. How does the council bring these up to the standards demanded by new laws, regulations and standards?

Promoting and Explaining Disabled Access

For planning permission applicants, there is an adopted 'Access For All' Supplementary Planning Guidance leaflet which gives clear guidance on disabled access provision in external design.

For residents and visitors to Swindon, there is a leaflet explaining the hearing enhancement equipment that the council provides for people using its public, leisure and community facilities.

For those interested in Swindon’s unique history and its conservation, there is an urban trail leaflet to use to explore the railway works heritage area in Swindon. The leaflet is available in clear print or on request in larger print size and other formats. The trail is also described in audio formats. One is in easy English and can be for someone with a learning difficulty. The other describes the route for a user with a visual impairment.