3. Overview of the research approach

Overall aims and focus

3.1.1. 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.

3.1.2. The research considered the needs of all street users but with a specific focus on more vulnerable users, including older people, children, and disabled people, including physical, sensory and cognitive and, where relevant, other groups that fall within the 2010 Equality Act definition of 'Protected Characteristics'.

3.1.3. 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.

3.1.4. WSP sought a balanced approach to the research between consulting groups with protected characteristics whilst avoiding undertaking 'tokenistic' consultation exercises e.g. with groups with protected characteristics which would have a minimal influence on inclusive street design.

3.1.5. Therefore, the primary focus was placed on disabled street users, particularly those with mobility and sensory impairments, to ensure that the engagement with disabled street users was of substance and enabled individual views and opinions to contribute directly to the research.

Good practice examples

3.1.6. This research investigated good practice examples of schemes within Scotland and England where inclusive engagement has been successfully implemented.

3.1.7. The examples were identified by participants in the street user focus groups and from engagement with designers, implementers and promoters. This included analysis of the projects identified and the successful inclusive engagement processes applied in these examples.

Inclusive engagement approaches

3.1.8. Effective engagement is an important element in ensuring that the needs of all street users are met during the development of proposals. The research investigated approaches to achieving effective engagement with communities in the development of proposals that support inclusive design in town centres and busy street environments.

3.1.9. Particular attention was given to engagement and genuine, effective consultation with disabled people and organisations.

3.1.10. The research covered issues such as the context for engagement (through planning / regeneration / community planning processes / Equality Impact Assessments); the timing of engagement; the method and format of engagement, including frequency, the role of Access Panels; and any special requirements such as approaches to effectively engage with hard to reach and seldom heard groups.

3.1.11. The research considered the alignment between the current consultation and engagement guidance in respect of aspects raised by the participants and literature review.

3.1.12. Conclusions were drawn from the research undertaken and the good practice examples which informed the principles and recommendations on how the guidance and application of guidance can be improved in order to better support inclusive engagement approaches and inclusive design of environments within town centres and busy street areas.

Physical design measures

3.1.13. The research considered physical design measures that can support inclusive and accessible design. As mentioned in section 2.1 this was undertaken in parallel to a separate research study by the TRL which is summarised in Appendix E.

3.1.14. The TRL research overlapped with the scope of this research. Therefore, the following was removed from this research:

• Delineation - types of delineation and detectability by specific groups, including shared use paths and streets with defined cycle lanes and tracks.
• Use of materials including type and tonal / colour / textural contrast, taking into account differing light levels and weather conditions.
• Public transport stops (including floating bus stops) and boarding points.
• Availability and types of parking located close to shops and amenities.

3.1.15. This research investigated how physical design measures can support improved access and provide safe, accessible, attractive and active places for local people and businesses. This has included the following areas:

• Crossings (formal and informal types and regularity).
• Segregation between pedestrians and vehicles (vertical and horizontal).
• Level or reduced level surfaces.
• Obstructions and 'treet clutter' including signs, advertising, street furniture, waste recycling and bollard type fixtures.

3.1.16. Conclusions were drawn from the research undertaken which informed the principles and recommendations, alongside recommendations for further research, set out in this report.

3.2.1. The research was undertaken in stages with a review undertaken with the Client Group at the end of each stage.

• Stage 1 - A review of existing evidence and literature - an academic review of current evidence and literature available within defined search criteria.
• Stage 2 - Disabled street user focus groups - a series of focus groups were held with disabled street users to discuss inclusive engagement approaches and physical design features that enable (provide more access to) and disable (provide less access to) users.
• Stage 3 - Consultation with designers, implementers and promoters - an online survey with a series of one-to-one consultations to understand how designers, implementers and promoters consider inclusive engagement and design.
• Stage 4 – Reporting.

Research brief

3.2.2. The research study approach was based upon the research brief which outlined the following requirements:

A review of existing evidence and literature

3.2.3. The research brief was to undertake a Literature Review examining the large volume of evidence and research that has been developed by various organisations on inclusive engagement and inclusive physical design measures in town centres and busy street environments.

3.2.4. The research brief was to identify and evaluate the existing evidence base and to examine some of the physical design measures and approaches often used in contemporary schemes. These included level, or reduced level surfaces, use of formal and informal crossing points, delineation, public transport stops and boarding points, speed and volume reduction measures and accident rates in town centre and busy streets environments.

3.2.5. When evaluating the evidence base, the research carefully considered coverage of the needs of all street users and in particular evidence covering a wide range of disabilities.

3.2.6. The aim of the research was to provide a summary of evidence on how place-led approaches, good placemaking and inclusive design principles can provide beneficial social, environmental, health and economic outcomes. The research was also to highlight any areas of conflict and negative impacts for different types of street users affected to different extents – negatively and positively – by design approaches.

User experience and engagement

3.2.7. The research brief focussed on the user experience and perceived levels of accessibility. It was expected that the research team would consult and engage with relevant organisations and individuals in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of evidence and obtain additional views on achieving inclusive design.

3.2.8. The research was to include the collecting and analysing of qualitative information such as the views and experiences of street users and in particular vulnerable people who may avoid town centres and busy street environments for reasons such as lack of a perceived 'safe space'; confusion at unfamiliar environments; volume and influence of traffic; physical inaccessibility including issues such as lack of, or inclusion of kerbs, barriers, footway clutter and other relevant considerations. This information was to be cross-referenced with statistical data on accessibility and the review of the existing evidence base.

Impacts and potential benefits

3.2.9. The research brief required the importance of 'Place' and adopting a coordinated and holistic approach to be covered in the research and reflected in the analysis of the potential benefits of positive and inclusive design.

Legal considerations

3.2.10. The research considered relevant legal duties such as those under equalities legislation, planning and roads legislation and duties on public safety.

3.3.1. At the outset of the research study the intention was to gather the perspectives of disabled street users through a series of structured interviews. During the Literature Review stage there were a number of requests made to the research team via the client group by members of the working group, who wished to further assist the research team in their understanding of the current issues.

3.3.2. This further input took the form of site visits and additional grey research (non-peer reviewed) material. The research team observed a TRL 'Accessible Public Realm' workshop, and meetings were held with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Guide Dogs and with the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK).

3.3.3. These meetings resulted in the research study being adapted to include a series of focus groups with disabled street users in order to gather their perspectives on inclusive engagement and design.

Focus group approach taken to gather user perspectives

3.3.4. The interaction with the disabled street user groups informed the approach for discussing inclusive engagement and design with the focus groups. The participants were encouraged to attend the focus groups which related to their particular impairment or focus area. This allowed the researchers to gain a level of independent consensus from each disability street user group without influence from other user group perspectives.

3.3.5. The focus group facilitators were asked to pay particular attention when 'safety' was mentioned and to ask participants to explain any safety concerns they had.

Designer, implementer and promoter perspectives

3.3.6. The literature review identified that there was a lack of information on the views of designers, implementers and promoters and a lack of information on the barriers they encounter which limits good engagement and design.

3.3.7. When this was identified the research study was adapted to include a survey of designers, implementers and promoters.

3.3.8. The research team had engaged informally with a small number of designers, implementers and promoters during the initial stages of the research study in order to inform the research approach in respect of engagement with disabled street users.

3.3.9. The research team considered a number of research approaches which would reassure designers, implementers and promoters that their comments could be made openly (without risk of retrospective challenge) and to allow the research team to ascertain the level of ability / competence currently within the design community.

3.3.10. Following consideration of focus group and detailed online survey methods, an online open questionnaire was incorporated into the study followed up with one-to-one conversations with participants. These supplemented any one-to-one interviews already undertaken.

3.3.11. The discussions were held in the knowledge that any feedback would be reported anonymously. However, there was some discomfort for some participants in discussing their experiences.

3.3.12. Those interviewees who were more confident in their engagement approach appeared to have existing and good relationships with Access Panels and / or pan-disability organisations, and / or a good level of experience in inclusive engagement.

3.3.13. Those less comfortable with their engagement approach believed it was due to a combination of factors, including weaker relationships with Access Panels and / or pan-disability organisations, monopolising of attention by some organisations that were perceived by the interviewee to have strong narrow views, and (in the view of some interviewees) a resulting level of mistrust between stakeholders.

3.4.1. The main report includes an overview of the research undertaken and the key messages and findings drawn from the research. The details are included within the report appendices.

3.4.2. The report details the findings from each element of the research programme and sets out how they were drawn from the research evidence, how these findings were analysed and collated, and how they were considered in relation to current guidance. The principles and recommendations drawn from the findings in response to the research brief and are set out in this report, structured around:

• Inclusive engagement; and
• Inclusive physical design measures.

3.4.3. The report also includes recommendations for proposed further actions e.g. development of guidance or further research.

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