News on 8 September 2000
GVA Grimley Building Consultancy advises companies to keep
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Part III at the forefront of their
minds when planning future property holdings and businesses. Tim Harris
of GVA Grimley says the second part of the Act, which was introduced last
year, might be thought of as old news but companies could lose money if
they do not act now.
According to Part III of the Act, by October 2004 "any person or
any organisation or entity which is concerned with the provision in the
UK of services (including goods and facilities)" is required to make
‘reasonable adjustments’ to the physical barriers of "any
feature arising from the design or construction of a building on the premises
occupied by the service provider".
The Act will affect all service providers, but the Courts will have to
decide and enforce ‘reasonableness’ when the final section of
the Act is in force. A cost-effective solution for major and minor alterations
would be to incorporate them with routine maintenance or refurbishment,
says GVA Grimleys.
With over 10 million adults having some form of disability, companies
will have to create an accessible environment so as not to exclude these
potential clients.
