4.1.4  The Residents' Accommodation

Walls and ceilings to apartments are to be structurally capable of receiving hoists and other later adaptations (please note that recent research suggests an increase in the number of obese persons in the population and this trend should be taken into account in the structural design of fixings for future hoists and the like).

[It is not a requirement that kitchen units specifically meeting the needs of wheelchair users be provided at the outset. Space standards must, however, allow for full wheelchair accessibility and the spaces must be capable of re-fitting at a future date to meet specific needs as required. Accessible kitchens need not be provided at the outset and will need to be retrofitted if required in the future.]21

The size and distribution of rooms must accommodate the range of furniture (and space zones) as indicated in Standards & Quality in Development: National Housing Federation.  Suitable space is to be provided within or immediately adjacent the kitchen to accommodate a dining table.

Sanitary accommodation shall be accessible from both hallway and bedroom.  A wheelchair accessible shower is to be provided.

____________________________________________________________________________________________
21  In general, schemes to date have designed for the 'average' occupant and then adapted units to suit individuals at a later date – as such the important design feature is the ability to subsequently adapt a property.  The Authority should consider whether this approach is consistent with their own objectives.