Accessibility, inclusion and equity
Infrastructure projects can change lives for the better. But without collaborative action and the right mindset, beneficial change for everyone is not guaranteed.
Poorer and more marginalised communities too often experience the negative impacts of infrastructure built without regard for how it affects their lives and communities in the long term.
Governments have taken notice and, using statutory requirements, are increasingly pursuing greater equity in how the benefits of infrastructure are distributed.
The infrastructure industry itself has also come to see the importance — as well as the business and financial benefits - of addressing accessibility, inclusion, and equity in the design and delivery of projects.
What can we do for you?
We bring deep knowledge and the latest digital and engineering tools to guide the design, planning, and construction of infrastructure that delivers improvements for the greatest number of people. Everyone benefits - including you and your investors - when no one is left behind.
Embedding accessibility, inclusion and equity
We can help you to prioritise and plan more accessible and inclusive projects and infrastructure with equitable services and benefits, maximising the benefits for communities, benchmarking and monitoring progress, and ultimately meeting the needs of potentially vulnerable groups.
Equality analysis and impact assessment
While assisting you to meet your statutory obligations, we help you deliver better outcomes by analysing the potential impacts of projects from the earliest stages of development and throughout the full project lifecycle.
Enabling inclusive projects and teams
We support you in delivering infrastructure that is more accessible, inclusive and human-centered, and build project teams reflecting the communities they’re part of. Experience has shown that small modifications early in the planning and design of infrastructure can deliver big impacts.
Riverfront Park, Newark, USA. Working for the Trust for Public Land and the City of Newark, we provided environmental and engineering services for this waterfront redevelopment project.
Engineering accessible, inclusive, and equitable infrastructure
We have a global network of social experts and embed them in project teams wherever you need them. We can guide you in formulating projects that eliminate barriers to inclusion and increase access to resources in the built environment. Our work includes:
Our experience
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Heathrow Airport, London, UKWe supported one of the world’s busiest airports to create a new strategy to ensure accessibility is built into the design of its expansion and growth plans, including proposed new terminal buildings and satellite facilities. Our work here means the needs of all airport users being considered from the outset.
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Riverfront Park, Newark NJ, USAWe provided engineering and environmental services to transform degraded brownfield land into an oasis of parkland. Riverfront Park has added more than 250 trees and 2ha of pervious surface.
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Rail Safety & Standards Board, UKWorking collaboratively with passengers who have visible or invisible disabilities, through their journeys, we developed insight, advice, and recommendations to improve accessibility for Great Britain’s rail network. This included the creation of a bespoke tool to enable train and station operators to review and measure the accessibility and social inclusion of their services.
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Technological University Dublin, Republic of IrelandThe Grangegorman campus of Technological University Dublin is the largest investment in higher education in Ireland for a century, bringing together many of the university’s activities at one vibrant, cutting-edge campus. For Transport Infrastructure Ireland, we prepared and finalised a design for Broadstone Lower Plaza, by the campus, to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of active travel. The project resulted in more enjoyable and attractive environment, with improved access to cultural and educational opportunities for the people of Dublin.
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Varanasi Junction station masterplan, IndiaWe advised on making Varanasi Junction’s design more accessible and inclusive for all rail users. Our support included collaboration with passengers to undertake a full needs assessment, identifying key issues related to connectivity - such as the ability to get from the station to their final destination — and opportunities for the community to work on the project.
People and Planet
People and Planet demonstrates and quantifies social and environmental outcomes. It combines publicly available data with project data to assess social and environmental factors alongside project priorities. Risks and opportunities are displayed on maps and dashboards, empowering decisions that create long-term benefits for people and the planet.
