Brighton & Hove Council Unveils Accessible City Strategy Targeting 30 Percent Public Space Upgrade

Brighton & Hove Council released an Accessible City Strategy covering 2023‑2028, marking the local authority’s first comprehensive plan dedicated to city‑wide accessibility for disabled residents and visitors, and will guide policy decisions across housing, recreation and emergency services.

Accessible City Strategy outlines actions to improve public transport, sidewalks, and municipal buildings, targeting barriers such as step‑only entrances and insufficient tactile paving, with a commitment to regular audits and inclusion of audio‑visual announcements on buses and tactile maps at transit hubs.

2023‑2028 Plan sets measurable milestones, including a 30 % increase in accessible public spaces by 2025 and a yearly budget allocation for retrofitting historic sites, overseen by an appointed accessibility officer, and quarterly stakeholder reviews to ensure compliance.

Disability Community groups were consulted during drafting, and the council pledged to publish progress reports annually, aiming to boost inclusion and meet national accessibility standards, with reports including data on ramp installations, accessible parking spots, and user satisfaction surveys.