Charlie Burton: House builders must shift their mindset - accessibility shouldn’t be a bolt-on | Policy blog

Charlie Burton , 26,is a radio producer and journalist, a manual wheelchair user, and soon-to-be homeowner. Here Charlie shares his experience of buying a new-build house in Leicestershire, which became a lot more complicated than it should have been because he asked for an accessible bathroom.

Like many disabled people, my needs aren’t extravagant: I just need a safe and dignified way to shower. For me, that means a level-access wet room.

When I found a home I loved on a new development in Leicestershire, I was upfront from the start with the developer. I explained my situation and asked if they could adapt the bathroom into a wet room. They initially said yes. I offered to cover the costs myself. It all seemed straightforward...

Then, weeks later, they changed their mind. Despite my willingness to pay, despite the legal protections for disabled people under the Equality Act, and despite the fact the property hadn't even been built yet, the developer refused to make the change. They argued that it would deviate too far from their "standard designs" and that they don't provide bespoke alterations — even if it's for access needs.

Disabled Facilities Grant

That decision has left me and my family in an incredibly difficult position. I still need a wet room. So, the plan now is to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). But here's the catch: you can only apply for a DFG once you own and occupy the property. And the process can take months.

That means moving into a home that I can't fully use. I’ll be renting a stairlift just to get upstairs, and showering at work while I wait for the grant to come through. It’s not ideal. It’s exhausting. And it’s not how anyone should be forced to live.

Throughout this, I've had support from a private occupational therapist, my MP's office, and housing organisations like Habinteg Housing Association. But the reality is, none of this should have been necessary. This could have been a simple, compassionate adjustment from the start.

Accessibility is a right

It’s been 10 years since the M4(2) and M4(3) accessibility standards were introduced into building regulations. They were supposed to futureproof homes and make sure disabled people could live independently and safely. But they're still not mandatory in all developments, and enforcement is patchy.

What I’d love to see in the next decade is a shift in mindset from developers. Accessibility shouldn't be treated as a bolt-on or a burden. It should be baked into design from the start. We talk a lot about building homes for the future — well, the future includes disabled people.

Accessible housing isn't a luxury. It's a basic right. And it's time the industry caught up.