One of the fundamental principles of sustainable development is that services and facilities should be accessible to all regardless of age, gender and infirmity. In land use planning, one aspect of this is the principle of ‘Inclusive Design’
Principles of Inclusive Design - Produced by CABE: http://www.cabe.org.uk/AssetLibrary/8853.pdf
The Welsh Assembly Government has enacted legislation to apply the principle of ‘Inclusive Design’ through the requirement for certain applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent to be accompanied by ‘Access Statements’.
The introduction of this legislation is supportive of the Disability Equality Duty, placed on public authorities from December 2006 under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995 and 2005), to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.
This guidance note relates to these changes and to the changes to the Development Control system in Wales which meant that from June 2007 Access Statements are required to accompany certain applications for planning permission and listed building consent.
This guidance will provide detail of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s policy and expectations with regard to the submission of Access Statements and will also be used in the validation and determination of planning applications.
Please refer to our Validation Requirements and Matrix
Please Note:
As from the 1st of June it will become a legal requirement for all applications for planning permission to be accompanied by a Design and Access Statement. This legislation applies to most applications (outline and full) and all Listed Building Applications.
Applications which do not require the submission of a Design and Access Statement are as follows:
· Applications for Engineering or mining operations
· Applications for a material change in use of land or buildings, unless the change of use involves public or employee access or is to a Listed Building.
· Advertisement consent
Please note that although the new legislation does not make Design and Access Statements mandatory for Householder Applications, the Authority approved local requirements for validation make Design Statements mandatory for all Householder Applications
The Authority is currently updating our Guidance Notes to reflect changes to the legislation. In the interim please refer to the Welsh Assembly Government’s
Guidance on the Design and Access Statement
More detailed information is available from the Design Commission for Wales
Design and Access Statements in Wales: Why, What and How (2008)
You can now view planning applications, related documents and comment on them online
News updateMore news from the National Park
You can now view planning applications, related documents and comment on them online
News updateMore news from the National Park