Changing Places Case Study: North Beach, Swanage

Accessibility By The Sea

Swanage is a busy coastal town on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, famed for its Blue Flag beaches, beautiful countryside, and traditional seaside attractions. The beautiful white sands of North Beach have been popular with holidaymakers for decades and are now significantly more accessible thanks to the addition of a Changing Places toilet.

 

 

Adaptation of Unused Space in Beachside Car Park

In partnership with Swanage Town Council and with funding provided through Dorset Council, RISE Adaptations were chosen to adapt an existing structure into a new Changing Places facility enabling even more people to experience the delights of North Beach.

We helped choose the North Beach car park location for the new facility, which proved to be ideal; North Beach remains accessible by car even in busy summer periods when car parks closer to town can fill up quickly, and there was an existing structure that was unused and ideal for one of our adaptation packages.

Located in a large car park the new facility is housed inside what was an unused part of the coastguard building, right next to the existing public toilets.

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Overcoming Challenges

The adaptation project at North Bay progressed without any issues but involved more onsite building work than our modular projects. This included closing up an external door and making a new entrance wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, as well as the creation of an internal timber frame to create the new Changing Places space. We also had to complete some drainage works onsite.

Once building works were complete, the space was kitted out with specialist equipment including an adult-sized changing bed and hoist. A shower was added for disabled guests’ convenience as this facility is at a beach location. Finally, the new toilet was finished off with a bespoke mural wall that features an image of Swanage Bay.

Already in use, the North Bay toilet was opened by Swanage deputy mayor Chris Moreton who said:

“The team that installed this facility have really done a fantastic job! It’s a welcoming sign to all those who need these facilities that there is a place for them here in Swanage. I’d also like to thank Dorset Council for giving us the grant which made all of this possible.”

 

The First of Many

Funding for the North Beach Changing Places toiler came via Dorset Council, which was awarded nearly half a million pounds for new Changing Places through a Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities scheme.

The funding awarded to Swanage Town Council for the facility is just one of seven new Changing Places toilets across the region that it is hoped will make some of the country’s best tourist destinations more inclusive.

“I should hope that this is only the first of many in Swanage and the surrounding area,” concludes Chris. “Hopefully the word will get out that these facilities are available and there will be a demand for more. It’s part of our corporate plan to improve access for all and the council is very committed to these improvements.”

For further information about Changing Places or to schedule a free consultation, please get in touch.

Call 07729 224 738 or email hello@riseadapt.co.uk
We’re open Monday to Friday, 08:00-18:00.

To learn more about Changing Places, why not download our brochure or attend one of our monthly online seminars.

Call: 07729 224 738
email: hello@riseadapt.co.uk
08:00-18:00, Mon-Fri

To learn more about Changing Places, why not download our brochure or attend one of our monthly online seminars.

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