10. Summary
10. Summary
10.1 Overview and methodology
10.1.1. Transport Scotland (TS), the Scottish Government (SG) and the Department for Transport (DfT) required research evidence and recommendations on methods and approaches to help deliver inclusive design environments within town centres and busy street areas.
10.1.2. The primary aim of this research was to provide evidence on methods and approaches that help to deliver inclusive design environments within town centres and busy street areas. The research included two main aspects - evidence on how inclusive engagement approaches can support inclusive design, and evidence on physical design measures that can support inclusive and accessible design.
10.1.3. The research drew on the following sources and approaches, the full details of which are included under the relevant appendices and summarised in this research report:
- A Literature Review.
- Perspectives from disabled street users through a series of focus groups on inclusive engagement and inclusive physical measures.
- Perspectives from designers, implementers and promoters through an online survey and a series of follow-on interviews.
10.1.4. This research investigated good practice examples of schemes within Scotland and England where inclusive engagement has been successfully implemented. In addition, further research was considered to supplement the literature review and the qualitative inputs from the user and designer perspectives.
10.1.5. The research has established principles that will support the delivery of more inclusive design, derived from analyses of the evidence. The recommendation of this report is that these principles be reflected in guidance, supported by further research as recommended in this report.
10.2 Conclusions – inclusive engagement
10.2.1. The findings derived from this research can be summarised across five key themes:
- Theme 1 - Stakeholder identification.
- Theme 2 - The scale and nature of the engagement process, including timing and notification.
- Theme 3 - Accessible engagement.
- Theme 4 – Recording.
- Theme 5 - Establishing and maintaining a good working relationship.
10.2.2. A review of the alignment between current guidance and the principles related to inclusive engagement concluded that existing guidance does cover the majority of points raised in some form.
10.2.3. However, it is clear from the focus group and designer feedback that despite the presence of the existing guidance (spread across a range of different documents) there remains a gap between what has been implemented as part of street design projects and the expectations of disabled street users and designers, with some specific requirements for street design projects to be addressed.
10.3 Conclusions - inclusive physical design measures
10.3.1. The perspectives of disabled street users with respect to inclusive physical design measures were sought in relation to specific design features and their impacts on people with different impairments.
10.3.2. The physical design features considered by the disabled street user focus groups were:
- Crossings - uncontrolled and controlled crossing of carriageways.
- Segregation between pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles.
- Obstructions and 'street clutter'
10.3.3. Two key themes were drawn from the research that are of overarching importance to the implementation of inclusive design.
- Theme 1 - Consistency in approach.
- Theme 2 - The influence of feeling 'unsafe' on access and use of areas by disabled street users.
10.3.4. Most aspects of physical design measures are covered to some extent by existing guidance. However, the guidance is spread across multiple documents, leading to inconsistency in its application and the perception of a lack of effectiveness of guidance by disabled street users.
10.4 Principles and recommendations related to inclusive engagement and inclusive physical design measures
10.4.1. The research has established principles that will support the delivery of more inclusive engagement and more inclusive physical design measures. Further details relating to the series of 16 principles (supported by sub-principles) with associated recommendations are set out in in Appendix J (inclusive engagement) and Appendix K (inclusive physical design measures).
10.4.2. It is a recommendation of this research study that these principles be reflected in guidance, supported by further research as recommended in this report.
10.5 Principles and recommendations related to training
10.5.1. The theme of improved guidance and training was evident from all the sources considered in the research and reflects evidence from the good practice examples identified.
10.5.2. Therefore, the development of guidance and training needs to be undertaken with consideration of the different professions that are likely to be involved in leading and implementing engagement and design.
10.5.3. Principle 17 is that the training of designers, implementers and promoters and those involved in the design process such as access panels needs to convey a greater appreciation of the key aspects pertaining to inclusive design.
10.5.4. The report makes recommendations that will support the development of training courses and materials that would help to convey the key aspects to the audiences for the training material.