• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / News Archive / Experts fear ‘red tape’ review is threat to accessible housing

Experts fear ‘red tape’ review is threat to accessible housing

By John Pring on 20th December 2012 Category: News Archive

Listen

Experts fear vital accessibility standards could be under threat because of a government assault on housing red tape.

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat communities minister, commissioned the review of building regulations and housing standards two months ago, and pledged that “essential safety and accessibility protections” would “remain untouched”.

But the Access Association has since written to Foster to express alarm that the accessibility and inclusive design industry was not represented among the 16 organisations chosen to offer advice on the review, part of the government’s controversial “Red Tape Challenge”.

And it has also grown concerned at the “level of hostility” around the review towards access standards and how they are supposedly “hindering house-building”.

The association pointed to comments by one of the four leading industry figures appointed to oversee the review, who was reported to have said that Lifetime Homes standards – key features that should be included in the design of accessible and adaptable housing – were “hindering housing construction”.

Sarah Rennie, president of the Access Association, said: “We are disappointed not to be formally involved in the review because it would have allowed us the opportunity to ensure that proper consideration – rather than ‘lip service’ – is being paid to vital access issues.”

She said the review “must firmly value inclusive design and social inclusion, rather than frame it as a perceived barrier to profit”.

She said: “We have not seen any evidence that access standards are hindering house-building and are concerned about the level of hostility apparent from the way in which they are being presented as the debate moves forward.”

Rennie said the Access Association would “not support any measures which have been motivated solely by a desire to cut perceived ‘red tape’”.

Foster said at the launch of the review in late October: “I want to see a simpler set of housing standards that people can easily understand and that free up developers and councils to get on with the job of building the high-quality new homes we so badly need to get more first-time buyers and families onto the housing ladder.”

Although the Access Association has not been asked to join the review, Rennie said it would be meeting in February with a civil servant from Foster’s Communities and Local Government department to “share the value of our combined expertise in this area”.

The department has so far failed to comment on the concerns raised by the Access Association.

20 December 2012

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

Government ignores warnings of new DWP deaths, and UN intervention, as MPs pass universal credit cuts bill

Urgent letter from UN to Labour government warns: We think your cuts continue Tory attack on disability rights

Race against time to secure DWP deaths evidence before parliament passes new benefit cuts bill

‘Complete shift in thinking’ needed on education of disabled children, says ALLFIE

Minister ignored concerns from disabled advisers, months before publishing cuts bill

Frustration after government only issues partial ban on new floating bus stops

Report suggests five big ideas that could transform disabled people’s mobility

My new book shows exactly why we need the disability movement, says disabled author

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web