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Newton

Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The most accessible entrance to the building is located within Laud, by the Touchdown café.
    There is step-free level access to this entrance from within Laud.
  • Newton has four entrances.
    The Laud entrance provides step-free level access (via an enclosed platform lift) to the ground floor (although there is a short but steep ramp leading out of the platform lift at the lower level). There is a single, manual, permanently-held-open door at this entrance.
  • All four entrances are signed as 'Newton'.
  • The external entrance (opposite Erasmus) provides stepped access to the ground floor. There are 9 steps at this entrance (8 external, and one further step on the door's threshold. There is a single manual door at this entrance, with a narrow opening width of 70cm.
    The Hepworth first floor and Hepworth second floor entrances provide stepped access to the first and second floors of the building, from the first and second floors of Hepworth respectively. Both have four steps and two sets of single manual doors, with the steps being located between the first and second sets of doors. In both cases the first set of doors has a narrow opening width (68cm).

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors, and to all floors via the main lift (although this was out of order when surveyed in April 2025).
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes consist of low pile carpet.
  • There are not resting areas in any circulation or lobby areas within the building.
  • There is some wall-mounted wayfinding signage throughout the building, and all rooms are clearly numbered and signed with written text on their doors.
  • There are not manual doors in any circulation corridors; only to access stairwells.
    There are push-pad activated single automatic doors to enter and exit the main lift lobby on all floors.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located on the first floor, along the corridor to the right as you exit the main lift.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • The female step-free toilet facilities are located on the first and second floors, along the corridor to the right as you exit the main lift.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • There are no standard male toilets within the building. The nearest standard male toilets are located on the first floor of Hepworth, between the first and second sets of doors at the entrance (Hepworth - First Floor). Alternatively, gentlemen can use the toilet with adaptations on the first floor, which is signed as being open to all.

Entrance (Main Block - Touchdown - From Anselm Courtyard)

  • This entrance is located in the courtyard opposite Anselm, by the University Bookshop.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 94cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a medium visual contrast.

Entrance (Laud)

  • This entrance is located to the rear of Laud, by Touchdown.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access via lift at the entrance.
  • The lift bypasses the steps.
  • There are 8 steps with handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 92cm.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.

Lift (Laud Entrance)

  • The lift surveyed is located in front of the Laud entrance.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the Laud entrance is 1m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have Braille markings, a high visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 91cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 87cm (width) x 141cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have Braille markings, tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift is slow moving and the button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator and a separate door to exit.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
  • There is a short but steep ramp leading into/out of the lift on the lower level.

Lift (Main Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located in the centre of the building, to the right as you enter the building via the Laud entrance.
  • The distance from the Laud entrance is 18m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, automatic doors and narrow walkways.
  • The ground floor, first floor, second floor and third floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • This lift was out of order when the building was surveyed (April 2025).

Stairs (East Stairs)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the east of the building, straight ahead as you enter through the Laud entrance.
  • There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
  • The ground floor, first floor, second floor and third floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the east of the building, by the Hepworth - first floor entrance.
    • The distance from the main lift is 14m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, automatic doors and narrow walkways.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 134cm (width) x 209cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 67cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 89cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 74cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 112cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.