§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the extension of Part M of the Building Regulations will ensure that all new flats above the entrance level can be reached by a lift. [62632]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe section in the revised Approved Document for Part M covering passenger lifts and common stairs in blocks of flats explains that the objective is to make reasonable provision for disabled people to visit occupants who live on any storey. The consultation on the proposed amendments recognised that given the added cost of the lift and the additional space needed in common areas, it was not considered reasonable to require a lift to be provided in all instances. However, following the consultation, instead of only controlling the size of lift when there were 12 or more flats above the entrance storey, it was decided that, whenever a lift is provided, it must be suitable for an unaccompanied wheelchair user, irrespective of the number of flats above the entrance storey.