LABC pledges support for BEPE - an inclusive design initiative

LABC has pledged support for the Built Environment Professional Education Project (BEPE), a new initiative that aims to influence the way architectural and building professionals are taught by embedding the principles of inclusive design in their training. It is hoped this will help change design attitudes towards disability and shape buildings of the future.

Influenced by the construction solutions that made the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games an inclusive design success, BEPE aims to produce architects, planners, surveyors and engineers with the competence and desire to put accessibility and inclusion at the heart of their projects.

Paul Everall, chief executive of LABC, said: “As the representative body for the building control teams working in local authorities, LABC fully supports this project to improve the education and training of built environment professionals in inclusive design. Building control surveyors have an important role to play to ensure high quality new buildings and it is vital that they are appropriately trained.”

Indeed since 2010, LABC has been running the Inclusive Design & Building Regs Part M course, which provides a holistic view of what makes an accessible environment - with a practical approach to understanding how accessible design can make a real difference. The course aims to foster a greater awareness of the challenges faced by disabled and elderly people and the considerations needed to understand what the legislations require and how this translates into improved real life experiences.

Key built environment professional institutions have thrown their weight behind the initiative. They include the Royal Institute of British Architects, Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Royal Town Planning Institute, Chartered Institute of Building, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, British Institute of Interior Design and Construction Industry Council.

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with LABC, contact LABC Communications at 020 8616 8120 or email comms@labc.co.uk