ABSTRACT
In 2000–2001, 18% of adults in England aged 16 and over reported having some form of disability, 5% of whom reported having a serious disability. The most common type of disability reported amongst adults was loco motor disability. Current legislation on housing design, to incorporate the needs of those individuals with physical disabilities, is contained within Part M of the Building Regulations. These requirements have had a significant impact upon dwelling design. Up until the 1990’s, the majority of housing within Britain was not accessible to wheelchair users, and the provision of housing for the disabled was guided by policies which were firmly rooted within an individual model of disability. The paradigm shift from the individual, or medical model of disability to the social model of disability informed British housing policy during the 1990’s and reflected a growing acceptance of a collective responsibility to create a fully inclusive environment.
