E-HOMES - Lifetime Homes

Approach to the home

Part M standard

The width of the approach, excluding space for a parked car, should take account of the needs of a wheelchair, stick or crutch. Excluding the car parking space, the path should not be less than 900mm wide.

The width normally assumed for a car parking space is 2400mm, which means that meeting the Part M requirement is likely to lead to an overall width of 3300mm (including the 900mm path that the Part M regulations require).

Diagram 1
Diagram 1

Imaginative design can reduce the impact of this requirement on the space between houses. For example, in diagram 1 the left-hand house has 900mm by the side of the car by using the shared area, while the right-hand house has 900mm to the side of the car between the car and the flower bed/lawn.

Lifetime Homes standard 1

Where there is car parking adjacent to the home, it should be capable of enlargement to attain 3300mm width.

Diagram 2
Diagram 2

Imaginative solutions for car parking include shared areas, or making provisions for the requirement when setting out the front garden area.

Lifetime Homes standard 2

The distance from the car parking space to the home should be kept to a minimum and should be level or gently sloping.

It is preferable to have a level approach.

However, where the topography prevents this, a maximum gradient of 1:12 is permissible on an individual slope of less than 5 metres or 1:15 if it is between 5 and 10m, and 1:20 where it is more than 10m (providing there are top, bottom and intermediate landings of not less than 1.2m excluding the swing of doors and gates). Paths should be a minimum of 900mm width.

Part M standard

The approach should be as safe and as convenient for disabled people as is reasonable, and, ideally, be level or gently sloping.

If the plot gradient is less than 1:20 then no part of the approach must be steeper than 1:20. If the plot gradient is between 1:15 and 1:20, then individual slopes of 5m or less may have gradients up to 1:12 and individual slopes 5 to 10m in length may have gradients up to 1:15 (there must be top, bottom and intermediate flat ‘landings’ of not less than 1.2m excluding the swing of doors and gates.

Part M makes provision for a ‘stepped’ access if plot gradients are steeper than 1:15). Paths should be at least 900mm wide.

Lifetime Homes standard 3

The approach to all entrances should be level or gently sloping.

Diagram 3a
Diagram 3a

Ideally the level or gently sloping approach should be achieved as, for example, shown in diagram 3a.

Diagram 3b
Diagram 3b

If the site is so steep that some steps are unavoidable, as allowed by Part M, level access can still be achieved from the car parking space. An example is given diagram 3b.

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