Disabled people in England betrayed' by cuts to new-build accessibility targets

"In its proposals for changes to the country's planning system, the government said a minimum of 40% of new-build homes would be built to improved accessibility standards M4(2) which include step-free access and wider doorways and corridors. The proposals set no minimum target for the proportion of wheelchair accessible M4(3) new-build homes, which disability campaigners believe should be at least 10%."

"We had been awaiting the plans to implement a previous 100% figure and this decision leaves disabled people feeling betrayed and excluded, and questioning the government's commitment to disability equality. Requiring 100% of all new-build homes to be built to improved accessibility standards, with 10% to wheelchair user standards, would have been the right thing to do, creating a level playing field for developers and sending a strong signal that our housing stock must change to meet the needs of our older and disabled citizens."

The government proposes that a minimum of 40% of new-build homes be built to improved accessibility standards M4(2), which include step-free access and wider doorways and corridors. The proposals set no minimum target for wheelchair-accessible M4(3) homes, which campaigners say should be at least 10%. The move reverses a previous commitment to require 100% of new homes to meet M4(2). Disability campaigners say the change leaves disabled people feeling betrayed and excluded and questions the government's commitment to disability equality. Some advocates call for 100% M4(2) with 10% M4(3) to meet ageing and disability needs.

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