Briefing: An inclusive public realm; an impossible dream or a reality?

In 1977 the Silver Jubilee Committee reported that disabled people were disadvantaged through exclusion by design. Thirty five years on and very little has changed. This is despite legislative frameworks to prevent discrimination and with a growing realisation that everyone is disadvantaged by design that fails to take into account inclusive design principles. It is not just disabled people who are affected, but a growing number of elderly people, women, parents and children; in fact we are all disadvantaged. Exclusion from individual buildings is frustrating and infuriating for disabled people and annoying for others, but if the spaces between buildings that act as connections between all human activities fails to work well, this is even more destructive. A high quality public realm is crucial to encourage people to walk or cycle but there is a collective apathy that seems to prevent action for change. No concrete solutions are given that will solve this problem, but some of the reasons for the inertia are examined and professionals whose work impacts on the quality of the built environment are urged to move forward the agenda for change.