At East West Rail, we are committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are embedded at every stage of the project. This month, our Accessibility Manager, Georgina Taylor was invited to speak on a panel at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Inclusive Design Overlay (IDO) Conference, sharing how our early engagement and inclusive design practices are shaping the future of railway infrastructure.
The event brought together professionals from across industries to explore how inclusive design can be effectively integrated into project delivery. Georgina shares her experience at the event and key takeaways for the future of the project.
I was pleased to be invited to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Inclusive Design Overlay (IDO) Conference this month (July 15th). The Inclusive Design Overlay was set up in 2022 to embed inclusive design into programme delivery in a way that could be understood and applied by all built environment professionals, from clients to operators, across the RIBA Plan of Work. There were contributors from various industries who worked on the project to develop the IDO, and this was the first conference since its inception.
It was held in Westminster, London at the Headquarters for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the aptly named 'Brunel Room'. The attendees included a broad mix of industries and engineering consultancies plus colleagues from EWR and partners Mott MacDonald & WSP Joint Venture (MWJV). There were two panels, each of five panel members, who all discussed how their projects had been positively impacted by the IDO. EWR was invited to join the panel due to the recent case study submitted to RIBA that documents the comprehensive early inclusive design activities undertaken in the EWR programme.
During the panel discussion, I outlined East West Rail’s strategy of ensuring barriers to accessible and inclusive travel on the railway are designed out of the built environment at the earliest stage of design to ensure independent movement for all and reduce later costs of retrofit. Key to the success of that strategy is engagement with user groups such as East West Rail’s Accessibility Advisory Panel and the Network Rail Built Environment Accessibility Panel. Engagement with these panels on early design principles is believed to be rare in the rail industry yet essential to creating a truly inclusive railway.
My key takeaways from the event were:
- The Inclusive Design Overlay (IDO) is an excellent piece of guidance to ensure the built environment is designed with equity at the heart of design.
- Understanding and listening to the needs of the end users is key.
- The IDO must be applied in the initial stages of design to get the maximum benefit in the business case and for the end-user experience.
- Applying the IDO early in design saves retrofit costs further down the line.
- It shouldn't just apply to the built environment; programmes should also ensure it is applied in construction, starting at the procurement stage.
Trevor Wilson, EWR Buildings and Stations Architect who also attended, noted:
“The RIBA Inclusive Design Overlay event was well attended, with a wide range of organisations from large companies to small businesses taking part. A key takeaway was that no single organisation has all the answers when it comes to creating inclusive design responses. It takes openness, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from others — especially the people who will use the spaces we design — to find solutions that work for everyone.
It’s great to see that East West Rail has been recognised as a leader in the field of inclusive design. Others in the construction industry are now looking to the EWR case study to help guide and inspire their own work.”
The EWR case study has now been published by RIBA and is available on their website, which you can read here. EWR will continue to engage with RIBA as our designs mature to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to delivering an inclusive railway that works for everyone.