Steven Mifsud wearing a hard hat and HI-Vis jacket outside the entrance to Coventry Station

Access

Consultancy

A photograph of Accessibility Consultation Manager, Ailsa Flett, a middle-aged caucasian woman, holding and tapping on her iPad in a library.

NRAC Access Consultants for any construction project

New build or refurbishment, considering disabled access issues at the feasibility stage informs the design and can avoid delays in Planning and Building Regulations approval – as well as unforeseen costs. So our team of Access Consultants will work with you at every stage from inception through to completion, advising on all aspects of accessibility.

Direct Access offers comprehensive accessibility consultation and disability services which integrate community engagement, legislation compliance, inclusive design planning, sustainable development practices, and a standard that goes beyond local law to provide site owners with a service that results in a best-practice built environment.

We have in-depth knowledge of planning, building control issues and disability legislation – whichever country you’re in – with services including:

  • Access Audits of buildings before and after refurbishment
  • Access Appraisals of new-build architectural plans and elevations
  • Access Statements at every stage, including planning, building control, construction, and occupation.

Paying close attention to a country’s respective standard of accessibility, our team go above and beyond to deliver innovative, industry-leading consultancy.

Worldwide, we maintain a commitment to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certification standards, implementing accessible, inclusive, and sustainable build projects that leave a longstanding legacy for both our partners and local communities.

A photo of the City of London Housing William Blake Estate seen from the outside of the stret.
A Caucasian man sat at a desk within an office environment with one hand on a mouse and another on his keyboard works on a Mac computer.

Access Appraisals

The best way to make sure that access is fully considered is to have an Access Appraisal. Undertaken by our NRAC Registered Consultants, an Access Appraisal is a study of new project plans with the aim of catching any potential issues before they become one and ensuring that inclusive design guidance is followed.

Often, an Access Appraisal will lay the groundwork for a comprehensive Access Statement and ensure that the design process from inception to development runs as smoothly as possible and avoid the risk of non-compliance with best practice accessibility standards. This allows designers and construction teams to develop inclusive buildings. 

Access Statements

Whatever the size of your project, Design and Access Statements give you peace of mind that all areas have been thoroughly addressed regarding accessibility. A Design and Access Statement is required by Planning authorities as part of the planning application and is compulsory for all but the simplest of householder applications. They cover all aspects of access across the four stages of construction:

  • Planning
  • Building Control
  • Construction
  • Completion

The earlier access provision can be considered – preferably the design stage – the better, as you’ll avoid later changes that may affect the site or building’s chosen aesthetic.

A man wearing a hi-vis vest and a white hardhat observes the construction of a white building on a building site.
A black man wearing a pink polo shirt, grey trousers, and a black cardigan poses in front of a Direct Access exhibition banner which has a grayscale image of a young man in a wheelchair on a cliffside holding his arms in the air.

Access

Consultancy

A smiling man, Steve Dering, holding an iPad is stood in front of various old trains at the Science and Industry Museum.

Accessibility

Audits

A mixed team of workers in a meeting in a conference room with a television in the background. One of the team is a man in a wheelchair.

Disability Workplace

Assessments

A panoramic view of Expo 2020 Dubai at night time.

Event

Planning

Training-2

Inclusion and

Awareness Training

Mystery Shopper

Mystery

Shopping

A selfie photograph of Steven Mifsud (Direct Access CEO) and Jamie Watson (Access Consultant) smiling with a lake and pier in the background on a cloudy day.

Walk and Talk

Accessibility Audits

A diverse group of disabled people at a consultation event at the Science Museum in London pose for a selfie together

Consultation

Events

Altrincham town centre during the day. Several benches and cafes with seating outside. Shops include MAX Photo Experts and Marks and Spencers.

Retail and Town Centre

Consultancy

The Direct Access logo.

United Kingdom

Pepper House,
Market Street,
Nantwich,
Cheshire,
CW5 5DQ.
Old Town Hall,
30 Tweedy Rd,
Bromley,
BR1 3FE.                   

Ireland

77 Camden Street Lower,
Dublin,
D02 XE80.

Inclusive Guides

Explore our free guides on accessibility and inclusion, crafted by our experts. Click Here.

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