New guide for universal design in planning

What is accessibility and why is it important in social planning?

Universal design should help everyone to experience inclusion and equality. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has now published a guide on how social and spatial planning in Norway can make a greater contribution to universal design, which is of great importance to people with disabilities.

OEncourages reflection and assessment in planning processes

Among other things, the guide encourages reflection and assessment during planning processes and provides examples of how accessibility considerations can be taken into account in different types of regional and municipal plans.

Universal design in planning: Key principles and requirements from new guidance

The most important points in the guide:

• Universal design (UD) is a prerequisite for ensuring that no one is excluded from participation in society.
• UU shall facilitate participation, equality and equity.
• UU is central to housing, land use and transport planning.
• UU is about solutions that as many people as possible can use, regardless of disability, age or life situation.
• The requirement is enshrined in the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act and the Planning and Building Act.

Requirements for Universal design in planning

Important requirements for universal design in building and community planning are:

• EE must be a consistent perspective in all plans and projects.
• New projects must fulfil the UU requirements; existing buildings and areas can be upgraded.
• The planning programme must describe participation.
• Architectural means should be used to ensure good, integrated solutions.

Participation in planning: The municipality's responsibility for inclusion and early involvement

The guide also points out the duty and responsibility for participation in planning processes:

• The municipality has a special responsibility to ensure the participation of groups that require adaptation.
• Municipalities are obliged to set up councils for people with disabilities, councils for the elderly and youth councils.
• Participation must start at an early stage, with comprehensible information and an equal knowledge base for everyone.
• Inspections and dialogue along the way provide better solutions and can save costs.

How you can influence accessibility in your municipality

The ministry encourages you to use your opportunity to influence:

• Join the council for people with disabilities.
• Provide input when the municipality submits plans for consultation.
• Attend meetings and inspections - your experience can lead to better solutions.
• Remember: What you see, hear and experience in everyday life can be important knowledge for planning.

In a nutshell

• UU is not a question of tobut how to.
• EE is an integral part of sustainability, gender equality and equity.
• EIA is legally anchored and applies to both new and existing buildings and surroundings.
• Early and broad participation is the key to good solutions.

If you want to read the entire guide, you can find it available in different formats here: Guide to Universal Design in planning

Eikholt project on accessibility for deafblind people

The guidance from the ministry is fully in line with Eikholt's ambitions. In the Eikholt project "Architecture for all senses - inclusive for all", the plan is to develop a guide for the universal design of public buildings with a special focus on people with combined visual and hearing impairments.

If you want to read more about the project, see here: Architecture for all senses - inclusive for all

Do you have questions about the content of this article?

Please contact Research Manager Kari Jokstad