Across the built environment, the design, construction and operation of buildings and places often unintentionally exclude many people, making their experiences within these spaces challenging and isolating. A lack of focus on inclusive design by property owners and developers means that individuals with diverse needs can feel overlooked or discriminated against.
Limited accessibility impacts a staggering portion of the population, with one in four of the UK’s 67 million people living with a disability, and thousands more facing temporary mobility challenges each year. When combined with an aging population, the scale of the challenge becomes clear.
Inclusive design – the practice of creating buildings and environments that are welcoming to everyone, regardless of their characteristics or identity – offers substantial societal and other benefits. By ensuring that all individuals feel welcome in these spaces, the industry can better futureproof the built environment. Taking action is therefore not only simply the right thing to do, but could also unlock greater commercial success for customers, and ensure the resilience of property portfolios is improved, by preventing the risk of stranded assets or expensive retrofits.
Alongside those with lived experience, The Crown Estate and Grosvenor have investigated the need for, and impact of, a more inclusive built environment. You can read more about this in the Inclusive Spaces and Places: A collaborative approach to inclusive design report.
Download executive summary here. Find full report below.
Together we have also created tools to address common knowledge as well as technical and organisational barriers to inclusive design.
We are committed to enacting the report's recommendations in full and working alongside peers in the industry to drive positive change.
This joint report highlights the urgent need for inclusive design in the built environment, emphasising the barriers that prevent millions from fully engaging with public and commercial spaces.
Download full report
The Crown Estate has recently refurbished our office space at 1 St James’s Market. The plans were informed by people with a range of different lived experiences to understand a broad range of needs and preferences.
Find out moreUnderstand and engage with current and future users of buildings and spaces, who have lived experience across a range of characteristics.
Measure and understand the level of accessibility for existing buildings and spaces to inform key interventions across our portfolio.
Provide better information on the level of accessibility of existing buildings and spaces so people can feel more confident using them.
Go beyond existing building regulations through introducing an inclusive design brief on all new developments, developed alongside people with lived experience of different protected characteristics.
Work with industry partners through a community of practice, that ensures accessibility and inclusive design are understood and considered across the built environment.
Michelle and Alan have been married for 18 years, and between them experience both visible and invisible disability. Commenting on their participation in our workshops, Michelle had this to say:
With partners, we are leading an industry working group to drive a step-change in debate and action on inclusive design.
Contact us at enquiries@thecrownestate.co.uk to find out more.
