Creating inclusive environments should be approached as a process that runs through a project and ultimately makes places easier to use for all users, it should not be seen as just complying with guidance and legislation. The LI has signed up to the six essential principles of Inclusive Design as set out in Construction Industry Council’s (CIC) Guide ‘Essential Principles for Built Environment Professionals’:
- Contribute to building an inclusive society now and in the future
- Apply professional and responsible judgement and take a leadership role
- Apply and integrate the principles of inclusive design from the outset of a project
- Do more than just comply with legislation and codes
- Seek multiple views to solve accessibility and inclusivity challenges
- Acquire the skills, knowledge, understanding and confidence to make inclusion the norm not the exception
The Landscape Institute aims to encourage its members to take a lead professional role in the design of accessible and inclusive environments by:
- design that helps to make the journeys people make and their use of streets and external space safe, accessible, easy, less challenging and more interesting;
- understanding the issues from the perspective of a diversity of users through talking to the people most affected;
- being aware of what makes places better for everyone to use;
- applying inclusive design principles at each LI/RIBA work stage;
- being aware of the legislation, government policy, and technical standards in relation to inclusive design; and
- reviewing some of the most useful guidance, learning from award winning case studies and implementing best practice.
The LI has produced technical guidance to help members improve their knowledge and understanding of inclusive design.
