Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

EN5: INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

1. Developments providing 10 or more new dwellings are required to include dwellings which meet optional Building Regulations standards for accessible, adaptable and wheelchair user dwellings, as required by Policy H10.

2. Vehicular parking for people with disabilities is required to be provided in accordance with Policy INF2. Parking bays for people with disabilities should be located as close as practicable to an accessible entrance to the building serve and the route between parking bay and entrance should be designed to avoid uneven surfaces, obstructions, steep gradients or other features likely to impair access.

3. Residential or mixed use developments providing 50 dwellings or more are required to provide play space for children and young people as required by Policy EN10.

4. Developments which include new streets and/or public spaces should be designed with regard to the needs of older people, including those living with dementia, people with disabilities or anyone whose mobility is reduced, by:

  • Providing safe, easily navigable and accessible routes through the development, incorporating landmarks and environmental cues to aid navigation within larger developments;
  • Within mixed use development, locating local services and community facilities in a central or easily accessible part of the development and designing buildings with clearly identifiable and accessible entrances;
  • Maximising connectivity to existing local services, public transport and green spaces located beyond the development;
  • Designing public open spaces so that they are accessible to all and provide an interesting and stimulating sensory environment;
  • Providing seating in new public open spaces and along longer pedestrian routes.
  • Designing car parks, footpaths and public spaces to support access by people with poor mobility, avoiding uneven surfaces, obstructions or excessive street clutter, minimising steep slopes or level changes;
  • Providing buffer zones such as trees or grass verges between busy roads and footpaths or open spaces; and,
  • Integrating any specialist housing into the wider development to facilitate social interaction for those who are unable to travel more widely.

5. All new development should support the safety and security of the whole community through maximising natural surveillance, placing entrances in safe, visible locations, having a clear definition between public and private space and incorporating well-designed external lighting which enhances security while avoiding light pollution.

6. In accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, where a proposed development is designed to meet specific needs relating to members of a protected group, the nature of those needs will be given appropriate weight in the decision-making process, alongside this and other policies of this Local Plan.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan