The Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into disability and the built environment looked closely at a wide range of issues affecting disabled people. This report sets out the government’s response to the recommendations in the committee’s report.
The report noted that while that some, small-scale, conversions of existing buildings to housing may not be able to meet the standards of Part MM [Access to and use of buildings], we do not agree that this means none can. Significant developments are currently able to go ahead without any provision for accessible housing—not even the minimum ‘visitability’ standard. It is not beyond the ability of Government to create, within the Building Regulations, a presumption that the relevant standards will apply unless there is good evidence to show that they cannot do so.
The Government accepts this recommendation in part. Currently, the requirements of Category1 (M4(1)) apply to new buildings, material changes of use, and material alterations but not to extensions. Optional requirements (Categories 2 and 3 (M4(2) and M4(3)) only apply to new buildings. As recognised by the Committee, this has been because of the practicalities of trying to apply some of the Part M provisions if these had not been designed in from the start, particularly for older or smaller properties, for example, the wider staircases required under current guidance.
Conversions make an important contribution to expanding housing supply and the Government is also mindful of the need to avoid increasing the costs of extensions and conversions.
However, the Government accepts that it would be possible for the provisions of Part M guidance to be capable of being met in some extensions or when a dwelling is being renovated.
The challenge is finding the right way to distinguish between buildings where this is practical and where it is not. The Government intends to consider this matter further and will commission further work on the impacts of changing the limits of application.