Paisley Town Hall Redevelopment EQIA

Redevelopment of Paisley Town Hall, which has a design and procurement programme of 12 months and a construction period of 24 months. The Town Hall will be redeveloped to bring it up to modern standards for a performance venue including live music, theatre, weddings, conferencing, dance, social events and the like. When re-developed the building will be fully accessible (excluding the second floor) and will include gender neutral toilets, changing places room, baby change and feed rooms and prayer and quiet room.

Purpose of facilities and target groups
Brief explanation	Who does the information relate to?
Disability access issues and other physical access issues; opportunity to work in and visit the building.	People with sensory impairment visual / hearing; disabled people; some older people
Provision of baby change and feed, changing places toilet, quiet room	Parents, carers, pregnancies and maternity
Prayer room (use of Quiet room)	People who wish to pray while working in or visiting the building
Issues for transgender and non binary people accessing appropriate toilet facilities	Transgender and non binary people
Appropriate toilet facilities to address concerns raised for women accessing sanitary products or other safety issues and to address any religious concerns	Women and some religious groups

Engagement with groups and organisations
Brief explanation	Who does the information relate to?
Renfrewshire Access Panel - Involved in the developing to meet accessibility needs	Disabled people
Guidance related to toilet provisions reviewed to assess toilet provision, from Scottish Transgender Alliance and Around the Toilet project	Trans people, non binary people, women
Public engagement activity with all groups	Consultation to make sure everyone is (within reason) being considered in the design

Protected characteristics
Protected characteristic	Affected	Specific group
Age	Yes
Ethnicity	Yes
Gender identity	Yes
Sex	Yes
Sexual orientation	Yes
Disability	Yes
Faith or belief	Yes
Pregnancy and maternity	Yes
Marriage and civil partnership	Yes
People living in poverty or socio-economic disadvantage	No	Perhaps in next phase when building is in use
Human rights issue	No

Addressing disadvantage and discrimination
Briefly describe all the incidences where you have recognised the potential for disadvantage or discrimination and the potential to promote equality	Describe what you have done to address the disadvantage or discrimination and promote equality	Further action required
Disability (mobility) - Stepped access	The design will eliminate the stepped 12 level changes per floor to provide ramped and mechanical lift horizontal movement provisions; fire evacuation lifts and evac chairs; refuge areas	No
Disability (accessibility) - access to toilet and changing facilities	Accessible toilets and a separate changing places toilet are provided	No
Disability (sensory impairment) - way funding and engagement	Colour contrast floor to walls; Braille signage in lifts; induction loop in all function rooms	No
Religion - requirements for prayer	Prayer room	No
Disability (mental health) - need for quiet spaces	Quiet room	No
Transgender persons - access to toilets	Gender neutral toilets with full height private toilet cubicles and doors
Women, girls and some religious - access to women only facility	Single sex toilets also available	No

Monitoring
What is being monitored?	How will you monitor this and who is responsible?
Design	Review of designs and continuous dialogue. We will monitor and review quantities of gender neutral toilets, levels in the building for accessibility and visual contrast between floors and walls, as well as incorporating items such as Braille in lifts and induction loops in the main function rooms for hard of hearing
Construction	Review that construction complies fully with the design

During the design of the project, leading to the construction project for the re-development of the Town Hall, we have sought to fully consider the needs of all people who will use the building. We have engaged (and will continue to do so) with relevant bodies such as the Renfrewshire Access Panel and we have used our collective knowledge within the project team to promote equality for all; it has been a focus during design workshops and design reviews.

The Architect has focussed into the needs of all groups during design.

We have not made the second floor accessible and have agreed this with Renfrewshire Access Panel. The main function on the second floor is gallery seating. We believe we are making sufficient provision for persons in wheelchairs on the ground and first floors in the auditorium.

Paisley Town Hall

Renfrewshire Council