Access Consultancy

The DDA places responsibilities on service providers and employers to ensure reasonable access to services and places of employment for people with disabilities.

Our consultancy service will undertake access assessments on existing and proposed Buildings identifying problems and offering practical, prioritised solutions for incorporation into the design or ongoing development and maintenance plans.

Martin Burgess, (MRICS, NRAC / ACAA Access Consultant, DMS) has over thirty years’ of international experience working as a Building Surveyor in both Accessibility and Building Control. Assent are pleased he is our lead consultant on inclusive deign and can use his extensive experience on advising clients on how they can meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of access for disabled people. This overlaps with the functional requirements of the Building Regulations which similarly seeks a built environment that has the highest level of accessibility that is possible.

Assent Access Consultancy aims to help and guide you through the often difficult and complex world of Inclusive Design, where there are often many ways to meet the broad objectives and principles of the overarching legislation.

We can to do this by working with you at all stages of the development process, from your initial concept design to the realisation of your ideas and beyond for clients with service provision responsibilities.

We will provide you with expert advice, knowledge and experience delivered in a personal, timely and cost effective way. We have the ability to solve problems in a proactive manner, working with you on any problems that you may encountered along the way. We aim to get it right – first time, every time – to minimise delays and costs in pursuing your ideas through the development and construction process. We will offer solutions and work with the client where there is a need to consider integrating management procedures with design solutions to optimise inclusivity with a completed project.

We have access to a network of associated professionals who can ensure a comprehensive service, most notably through our “sister” company Assent Building Control (a national service delivered locally). We can offer integrated development solutions that make it as easy as possible for you to secure the necessary consents you need to get your plans off the drawing board and into reality.

Assent Access Consultancy can call upon the specialised services of other professionals within the development sector, including our Approved Inspectors at Assent Building Control. These services can be commissioned for clients in order to provide a comprehensive and seamless service.

Assent Access gives you:

Expertise, experience and commitment

A commercially aware, responsive service that puts you at the heart of our business
Experience in all sectors with International Blue Chip companies
With international experience in all sectors from residential, commercial, hospitality and transport, we are able to support clients

Assent Access Consultancy - Services

We offer a comprehensive range of services helping guide you through the development process and beyond.

We can:

Work with you to prepare detailed Design and Access Statements
Inclusive design reviews of proposals from concept through to tender stage
On site audits of completed projects and for due diligence purposes with existing buildings, suited to the requirements of the client
Support clients with management processes and procedures for when a building or service provider commences operation
Assist in developing access strategies for organisations seeking to meet their obligations under the Equality Act, which can include a range of measures which we can assist in coordinating, advising and supporting
Experience of preparing Emergency Evacuation Plans for individuals (PEEPS) or more broadly in publicly accessible buildings
Support and guidance with addressing Local Council Planning Policies
Assist with site assessments, and masterplanning for new developments
Assistance with the new 2015 Building Regulations / Planning guidance on Accessible and Adaptable Housing
Expert witness services offered for appeal hearings and legal cases involving inclusive design matters and interpretation under the Equality Act and Building Act (Building Regulations)
Provide education and training for all Inclusive Design and Accessibility issues, which can be bespoke courses for groups or companies.
Provide specific staff training and awareness courses to ensure that service delivery is inclusive (either independently or as part of an access strategy, as noted above)

What Our Clients Said …

"Nicola Booth at Assent's Wakefield Office was the Building Control Officer on the New Haribo Production building in Castleford.

With a good knowledge of the Building Regulations, Nicola was organised with the Building Control matrix we asked her to produce and always available to speak to on…"

Chris Sheard - The Harris Partnership

"Nicola was the Building Control officer at our house refurbishment project in Crimicar, Sheffield. Her knowledge and expertise meant that, despite a number of issues that we had to encounter, the project ran smoothly and was completed on time.

During the project we have built up a…"

Whitshaw Builders

"Des is a diligent and thorough Building Control Inspector. He is a good communicator and it is because of this that we often consult with him at the early stages of a project in order to get a building control view. When a project is on site we have found…"

Neil Ayres RIBA, FRSA, N W Ayres Architect

"We have worked with Assent on numerous projects and have consistently received a professional and responsive service, delivered in a helpful and friendly manner."

Catherine Hewitt - Wildblood Macdonald