Access Audit and systems integration - Derwent London
Derwent London is the largest central London focused REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust), London’s creative office specialist.
Derwent London is one of London’s most innovative office specialist property regenerators and investors and is well known for its design-led philosophy and creative management approach to development. Our appealing designs attract a range of tenants, including those from creative industries. The Group owns and manages an investment portfolio of 5.6 million sq ft, of which 98% is located in central London, with a specific focus on the West End and the areas bordering the City of London, with the latter principally in the Tech Belt. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250.
The Challenge
In meeting it’s ambitions and objectives regarding accessibility and inclusion, Derwent London sought to establish a baseline of accessibility across its range of properties. This information would support them to make more effective decisions regarding improvements across the portfolio that impacted positively on accessibility.
Derwent London uses a specific internal management system and would require all data and insight to be integrated into this system.
The Solution
AccessAble worked with colleagues at Derwent London to create an audit process and approach that would provide a comprehensive review of each property whilst aligning recorded information within the current management system employed by the organisation.
AccessAble undertook an audit of over 50 properties within the Derwent London portfolio and produced summary and full reports for each venue. The data set was established at the outset with Derwent London and fed directly into their internal management system.
Feedback
"We began working with AccessAble as we were looking for an experienced organisation, well respected in the sector, to support us with improving our insight and understanding of the accessibility of our diverse property portfolio
We needed to understand the current status of accessibility from an independent perspective whilst also identifying key areas for improvement.
The audit process that AccessAble set out was undertaken in close collaboration with us, they were able to adapt to our requirements and present the information in a format that could be integrated into our management systems.
Their efficient approach to surveying and the breadth of analysis they provided us with, have enabled us a genuine insight into our portfolio that will improve our offer to our tenants, residents and visitors whilst prioritising improvements from low-cost and no-cost through to larger infrastructure developments
We have since worked with AccessAble to produce an Inclusive Design Guide that sets out our commitments to accessibility and inclusive design for all new builds and refurbishments and will enable us to get things right from the outset in this respect and for the buildings future use . Their work in this area has been comprehensive, supportive and very much aligned with our existing principles.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend working with AccessAble to colleagues in the property and retail sector."