Access Guide
Accommodation Summary
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Parking and Transport
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- The accommodation shares another buildings parking facilities.
- No secure parking is available.
- The car park is shared with Elvey, Bainbridge, Laming, Wooler and Milfield.
- There is not a designated drop off point.
- There is not a university bus service stop within approximately 200 metres of the residence.
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Residence Information
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- The residence surveyed was SPENSLEY.
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Accessible Accommodation Information
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- The accommodation has 0 rooms in total.
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Standard Accommodation Information
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- There is standard accommodation on the ground floor.
- Ground floor accommodation does not have level access.
- 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 an/are adjoining room(s) available for the standard room(s).
- There are 2 steps up to access the ground floor rooms 05-09. There are 2 steps down to access the ground floor rooms 01-04.
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Amenities and Communal Facilities
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- There is not a convenience store within approximately 200 metres of the residence.
- Communal facilities within this residence include a staffed reception, a launderette, a recreation room, a bar and a study area.
- The communal facilities for the accommodation surveyed include; a kitchen.
- The Kitchen/Diner is for a maximum of 6-9 people.
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Additional Accessibility Aids
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- There is not a deaf alert system available on request.
- Vibrating pillows alarms are 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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- Howlands is located south of Durham city centre, off South Road. The site is accessed from the A167 and A177.
- Limited Blue Badge parking bays are available throughout the site for residents. The site car park is Howlands, and is located off South Road at the front of the site. There is a public park and ride between the site car park and South Road.
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By Bus
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- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
- The nearest bus stop is Durham Park & Ride Howlands which is served by bus PR2.
- For more information on Scarlet Band Buses please click here (opens new tab).
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By Train
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- The nearest Railway Station is Durham.
- Durham station is located in the centre of the city, and provides direct links to London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Plymouth. The station is 1.7 miles from the campus.
- For more information on Durham Station please click here (opens 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 have its own dedicated parking.
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Building Car Park
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- The car park can be used by Blue Badge holders.
- There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
- The car park is located to the left of the building up the stairs.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
- There is/are 2 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
- The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 240cm x 480cm.
- The Blue Badge parking bays have a marked zone to one side and the rear.
- The marked zone is 80cm wide.
- The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
- The nearest designated bay is 48m (52yd 1ft) from the entrance.
- The route from the car park to the building is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is / are level changes with no dropped kerbs.
- The car park surface is block paving.
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Site/Campus Car Parks
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- There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
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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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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point.
Approach
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Approach
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- The surface of the approach is tarmac and block paving.
- The approach surface is uneven in places.
- There is a/are fixed bollard(s) on the approach .
- The minimum width between the bollards/wall is 136cm.
- The bollard(s) has/have a high visual contrast to prevent them being hazardous to visually impaired people.
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Ramp/Slope
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- There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
- The ramp/slope is permanent, has a steep gradient and has no handrails.
- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
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Step(s)
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- There is a/are step(s) on the approach.
- There is/are 10+ unmarked step(s), with handrails on both sides.
- Handrails are 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.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 14cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
Outside Access
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
- This entrance gives access to ground floor.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- This entrance is signed with 'SPENSLEY'.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is an intercom.
- The height of the intercom is 148cm .
- A key fob is required for access at this entrance.
- The height of the key fob reader is 124cm.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 82cm.
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Step(s)
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- The step(s) is/are located in the doorway.
- There is/are 1 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 14cm.
- 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).
Inside Access
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Access and Circulation
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- There is not step-free access throughout the building.
- The type of flooring is carpet and vinyl.
- There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor.
- 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/sound.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
Other Floors
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located immediately ahead as you enter the building.
- The stairs are approximately 1m from the entrance.
- The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1 and 2.
- There are 14 steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not 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 both sides.
- Handrails are 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.
- 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 rooms in this building.
Kitchen/Dining Area
- The kitchen/dining area is accessed by a single door with an opening width of over 75cm.
- Lowered work surfaces are not available.
- The height of the lowest work surface is 92cm.
- The kitchen does have an unobstructed floor space of at least 150cm × 150cm.
- There is not a knee recess under a work surface.
- There are some low level cupboards.
- The height of the dining table is 67cm.
- There are dining chairs without armrests only.
Toilet with Adaptations
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in Stephenson central.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The shared toilet is located on the ground floor right hand corridor.
- There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 3m from the stairs.
- The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
- There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 82cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Shower
- Shower facilities are available.
- The shower(s) surveyed is/are located on the ground floor right hand corridor.
- There is not level access to the shower facilities.
- There is a deep step of 30cm to access the shower created by the shower tray.
