Southwark - P8 Wheelchair Accessible and Adaptable Housing

Policy information sourced from the Southwark Local Plan 2022

P8 Wheelchair Accessible and Adaptable Housing

New build major residential development must:
- Meet Building Regulation M4(3) standard (Wheelchair User Dwellings) in at least 10% of homes (as measured in habitable rooms) and
- The remaining dwellings must meet Building Regulation M4(2) (accessible and adaptable dwellings) and;
- Where those homes are affordable wheelchair user homes, 10% of social rented homes must be wheelchair accessible and meet Building Regulation M4(3)(2)(b) standard (Wheelchair accessible dwellings).
New build residential development must:
- Provide a mix of dwelling sizes and tenures that meet the above standards, including family homes. Two bedroom three person affordable wheelchair homes will not be acceptable; and
- Provide wheelchair accessible homes that meet the minimum space standards set out in Table 4; and
- Provide affordable wheelchair homes that meet the design and access standards set out in Table 5; and
- Provide access to a second lift where wheelchair accessible or wheelchair adaptable units are above the ground floor; and
- Provide affordable wheelchair homes which, where unoccupied, must be let as local authority temporary accommodation until a suitable permanent household is identified; and
- Provide alternative specialist housing to meet specific needs in place of an affordable wheelchair

Table 4: Accessible wheelchair user housing minimum space standards
Number of Bedrooms	Minimum Space (Apartments) (sqm)	Minimum Space (Houses) (sqm)
1b2p	65	N/A
2b3p	75	80
2b4p	85	100
3b4p	100	110
3b5p	110	120
3b6p	115	125

Table 5: Wheelchair homes design and access standards
Installation of entry phones which allow access to the communal area and private front door where the private door is behind a communal door.
Hand wash basins that are mountable on adjustable height brackets
Two lifts where wheelchair user homes are situated above the ground floor.
Corridor widths of at least 1,200mm.
Window handles within the 450mm to 1,200mm range.
Wall fitted shower seats with drop down legs, drop down arms and a back rest.
Installation of a side hinged oven.
Accessible storage including drop down shelving and pull out baskets, ensuring storage space, in combination with any shelving layout, provides optimum access to space and to stored items.
Clear open doorways at least 900mm.
Living rooms, bathrooms and shower rooms, kitchens and dining rooms which exceed the minimum space standards in Building Regulations.
600mm x 600mm wheelchair accessible work top for food preparation.
Ramps at a gradient of 1:20

For more information please see the Southwark Local Plan 2022