Access Guide
Summary
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Building
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- Services / Facilities within the building include; ensuite Accommodation and the Porter's Lodge for the whole of University College.
- This venue is part of Durham Castle. The Dining Hall, Library, Undercroft Bar, Undercroft Café, Study Rooms and Tunstall Chapel are also located elsewhere in the Castle.
Accommodation Summary
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Parking and Transport
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- The accommodation does not have its own parking facilities.
- There is not a designated drop off point.
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Standard Accommodation Information
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- There is not standard accommodation on the ground floor.
- There are standard rooms on other floors.
- The other floors cannot be accessed by lift.
- Standard accommodation has shared bathrooms with stepped shower cubicles.
- There is not an/are not adjoining room(s) available for the standard room(s).
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Amenities and Communal Facilities
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- Communal facilities within this residence include a staffed reception, a launderette, a common room, a recreation room, a bar and a study area.
- The dining area for the Hall of Residence is located in the Great Hall in the Castle Area. There is also a Chapel Available in the Castle Area.
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Additional Accessibility Aids
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- There is not a deaf alert system available on request.
- Bed raisers are not available on request.
- Portable hoists are not available on request.
Getting Here
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By Road
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- The building is situated in the Peninsula which contains a lot of pedestrian traffic and may be difficult to drive around.
- There is access for permit holders to the Palace Green Car Park and the Blue Badge bays located along North Bailey. Access to the University Buildings of the Peninsula via car is only available via Sadler's Street.
- For more information on Durham University Location please click here (opens new tab).
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By Bus
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- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the building.
- The nearest bus stop is the Cathedral Bus Stop situated off Palace Green which serves route 40D.
- For more information on Buses in Durham please click here (opens new tab).
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By Train
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- The nearest Railway Station is Durham Station.
- The station is located approximately 0.7 miles to the North West of the University Venues on the Peninsula.
- For more information on Durham Station please click here (opens new tab).
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Useful Links
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- The Peninsula area of Durham where the University building is situated is a World Heritage site for more information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- The Peninsula Area of Durham is dominated by the Cathedral for more information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Visitor Travel information for Durham.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Useful Information
- Disability Support is located on the ground floor in the Palatine Centre, and provides information, advice and guidance to prospective and current students who disclose a disability as well as students who think they may have a disability.
The service is part of the Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate. - To see more information on Disability Support please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Student Support and Wellbeing please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Applying To Durham please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on College Accommodation and Facilities please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Accommodation and Allocations Office please click here (opens new tab).
Building Parking
- The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
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Site/Campus Car Parks
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- There is a site/campus car park for staff within approximately 200m.
- The name of the car park is Palace Green Car Park.
- The car park is located off Palace Green.
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Public Car Parks
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- There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
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On Street Parking
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- Clearly signed and/or marked on street Blue Badge parking bays are available.
- The dimensions of the marked Blue Badge bays are 200cm x 1200cm (6ft 7in x 39ft 4in).
- The on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) is/are located on along North Bailey.
- Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are not available.
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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point.
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Comments
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- The Blue Badge bay can be seen in photograph 1.
- The Blue Badge Bay is only available for a maximum stay of three hours between 08:00 and 18:00 with no return within one hour.
- Photograph 2 shows the Palace Green Car Park.
- The Palace Green Car Park is only for the use of authorised staff permit holders and authorised visitor permit holders.
Approach
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Approach
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- The surface of the approach is cobbled.
- The approach surface is uneven in places.
- The bollard(s) does/do not have a high visual contrast to prevent them being hazardous to visually impaired people.
- There is step-free access on the approach.
- There is a slope with a very easy incline.
Outside Access
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located to your left when entering the castle gatehouse.
- This entrance gives access to the Porter's Lodge.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- This entrance is signed with 'Porter's Lodge'.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 80cm.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 76cm.
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Step(s)
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- The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
- There is/are 1 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 8cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
Reception (Porters Lodge)
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Reception
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- The reception point is located in front of you on entrance.
- The reception point is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Porters Lodge Entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step-free access to the reception point.
- There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
- There are windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors at/behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
- The lighting levels at the reception point are good.
- The height of the reception counter is 80cm .
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
- There is not a lowered section of the counter.
- There is not a clear knee recess beneath the counter.
- The counter is staffed.
- There is not a hearing assistance system at the reception point.
- There is no wayfinding signage available at/close to the reception.
- The type of flooring in the reception area is carpet.
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Reception Waiting Area
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- There is not a waiting area close to the reception point.
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Security Barriers
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- There are soap dispensers at heights of 120cm and 138cm.
Getting Around
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Access
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- There is step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
- There are ten steps to access the offices on the ground floor as well as the main staircase.
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Circulation
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- There are doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
- There are corridors/walkways with a surface width of less than 120cm (excluding any permanent obstructions over a small distance).
- The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is carpet.
- There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
- The lighting levels are good.
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Signage
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- Wayfinding signage is not provided.
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Safe Place(s)
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- There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
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Audio
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- This venue does not play background music in communal areas.
Step(s)
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Stepped Level Change 1
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- There is a/are step(s) located beyond the reception.
- The step(s) is/are used to access offices and the main staircase to the basement.
- There is/are 10 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
Other Floors
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located immediately after the level change.
- The stairs are approximately 15m from the main entrance.
- Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not available from the entrance.
- There are manual, heavy, double doors to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are B and G.
- There are 13 steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 20cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on the left going up.
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
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Other Information
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- The room(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are all standard accommodation rooms.
Toilet with Adaptations
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
