George Knott's story

"As a consultant architect and town planner I am aware that my professional services are often out of reach for many. Working as a volunteer with Planning Aid for London breaks that access barrier and, at the same time, each case brings a fresh and stimulating challenge to me. 

One of my cases involved a family needing to build a wheelchair-friendly annex for a member of the household who is blind. I felt so foolish when I attended my first meeting with a set of typical architects drawings and sketches that were, obviously, useless to my primary client who could not see them. A re-think was needed!

I am used to making delicate, beautiful (to the eye) architectural models but this challenge was different. A chunky, robust modeling technique was developed using clear textures so that the model could be read with one's fingers as well as with one's eyes. Now we can all sit together and discuss the designs – the arrangement of spaces, exact position of access ramps, where the furniture is placed…and on to the inevitable issues of planning permission and building regulations etc..

I have found this to be a particularly rewarding process. Creating the tactile-model not only made me think laterally about communication tools but it also assisted me in appreciating how the blind and partially-sighted actually experience the built environment."

Funding from London Councils helps Planning Aid for London provide services including a telephone and face-to-face advisory service on all planning issues for groups and individuals, particularly those people who have most difficulty in accessing the planning system such as disabled people.  The charity also encourages effective community involvement in planning and urban regeneration across London in both regional and local planning issues, and provides specialist training to community groups, developers, councillors and officers on all aspects of planning and effective engagement.