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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include self-catered student accommodation in 26 houses, with a varying number of rooms in each house.
    There are different variations: 4 bed with a self-contained flat on the top floor, 5 bed, 7 bed and 8 bed.
    This self-catered accommodation is mainly for postgraduate students undertaking short stay academic programmes of nine months or less.
    The houses are located to the rear of Darwin College which has Origins Bar and Bistro inside for food/drink.
  • Darwin College link (new tab) - click here.

Getting Here (Getting to Darwin Houses)

  • By Road View
    • The building is on the east side of the campus located off Darwin Road.
      Darwin Road is accessed via Giles Lane off the A290 Whitstable Road.
      This is just over a 1 mile north of Canterbury City Centre.
      Darwin Houses are located to the rear of Darwin College.
    • Darwin car park is for Blue Badge holders and university Pink permit holders only.
      The nearest car park for other users/ visitors is the Central Visitor Car Park, to the west of the Gulbenkian/Colyer-Fergusson Buildings.
      This is reached using Library Road off Giles Lane and then taking the footpath around Colyer-Fergusson to the central campus area.
  • By Bus View
    • There are frequent Unibus services linking the University campus with the centre of Canterbury and Canterbury East and West train stations. The nearest bus stop is on Darwin Road which is served by Uni1 and Uni2 buses.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest train station is Canterbury West, to the north of the city centre.
      This is on the line from London to Kent, including Ashford International.
      There is step-free access into the station building.
      There is step-free access to both platforms by lift.
      Staff are available to assist with portable ramps between the platform and the train.
      There are buses linking the city centre with the University campus, with stops about 5 minutes away from the station.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information (University of Kent)

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is a site/campus car park for staff, students and visitors within approximately 200m.
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available within the car park.
    • The name of the car park is Darwin Car Park.
    • The car park is located outside Darwin College (within 150 metres from the houses).
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Darwin Road.
    • The standard parking spaces on Darwin Road are not individually spaced.
      To park here you need a Pink zone permit from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
      The spaces are shown in photographs 1 and 2.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Site/Campus Car Park (Darwin Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Darwin Road and outside the main entrance to Darwin.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Darwin and Missing Link.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted and have markings which are faded.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 235cm x 480cm (7ft 9in x 15ft 9in).
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders, permit holders, staff permit holders and student permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
    • Signs are clearly presented.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access to the car park from the Darwin Houses.
    • This car park is not clearly signposted from the Darwin Houses.
    • The nearest designated bay is 180m (196yd 2ft) from the Darwin Houses.
  • Comments View
    • The Blue Badge bay has a marked area to one side that is 90cm wide. The bay is located on a steep slope from the standard bays and is next to the path leading towards the main entrance to Darwin College.

Outside Access (House 8 ''Iguana'' (5 bed))

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the left-hand side of the court facing onto the central green.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 143cm (4ft 8in).
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 69cm (2ft 3in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located at the door (doorstep).
    • There is / are 1 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do not have handrails.
  • Comments View
    • The doorstep to the house is 28cm high as shown in photograph 2.
    • All of the houses have identical entrances apart from the two 7 bed properties in each corner of the court.
    • The houses have an Amazon locker close to Darwin House 1 as shown in photograph 3.

Outside Access (House 7 ''Hutton'' and House 20 ''Keith Lucas'')

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located in the corners of the court of houses, with stairs leading up to the entrance.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 128cm (4ft 2in).
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 68cm (2ft 3in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located leading towards the entrance door from the court of houses.
    • There is / are 17 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides.
  • Comments View
    • The doorstep is also 10cm high.

Outside Access (Laundry Room)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the rear of houses with the entrance facing Giles Lane.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 83cm (2ft 9in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located at the door (doorstep).
    • There is / are 1 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do not have handrails.
  • Comments View
    • The doorstep is 27cm high.
    • There are cut-throughs on both corners and in the centre of the block of houses to gain access to the laundry room.

Inside Access

  • There is not level access to the service.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • Most corridors within the houses are under 100cm wide.
    • Some of the houses have fire doors beyond the first door which are heavy, as shown in photograph 4.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2 (2nd floor only in some buildings).
    • The stairs are located just inside the main entrance into the house.
    • The stairs are approximately 4m from the entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • There is a landing.
    • The other houses have similar staircases however some have the handrail on the left-hand side as shown in photographs 3 and 4. Some of the staircases do not have a landing.

Accommodation

  • Location of Accessible Accommodation View
    • The establishment provides 0 accessible accommodation facilities with an ensuite and/or separate accessible bathroom.
  • Auxiliary Aids - General View
    • Assistance dogs are welcome to stay with residents in standard rooms.
  • Ground Floor Rooms View
    • Ground floor rooms do not have level access.
    • Adjoining rooms are not available.
  • Standard Rooms on Other Floors View
    • There are standard rooms on other floors.
    • The other floors cannot be accessed by lift.
    • Adjoining rooms are not available.
  • Comments View
    • The houses all have 2/3 rooms on the ground floor.
    • House 8 (5 bed): Standard rooms with a desk 73cm high, height adjustable chair and a bed 50cm high. This is shown in photographs 1 and 2.
    • A shared kitchen on the ground floor with a table 73cm high and kitchen counter 90cm high. There are all standard amenities as shown in photographs 3 and 4.
    • There is a shared bathroom on the first floor. The sink is 81cm high and there is a stepped shower which has two steps 12-14cm high as shown in photographs 5-7.
    • Houses with a self-contained flat on the top floor e.g. House 9 ''Jemmy Button'' (5 bed): Standard rooms and shared kitchen. The self-contained flat on the top floor has a kitchen (counter space 92cm high and a table 73cm high) with all standard amenities. It has a bedroom with a double bed and a bathroom with a similar stepped shower.
    • Two flats with different kitchens with similar stepped showers are shown in photographs 8-14.
    • 7 bed: Standard rooms and kitchen with a bathroom on the bottom floor. It has a stepped (18cm high) downstairs shower as well as one on the first floor with the further 5 rooms.
    • 8 bed: Standard rooms and kitchen with similar shared bathrooms on each floor.
    • Auxiliary Aids
    • Certain accomodation blocks may be suggested for more space if a resident has an assistance dog. Similarly, if a student/resident has a lot of specialist equipment, an ensuite or studio would be suggested (normally the university will pay the difference in cost).
    • Any additional aids for sensory or mobility impairments (vibrating pillows, light alerts, mobile hoists) are the student’s home local authority’s responsibility. However, they can be provided on request in the interim if any issues arise.

Laundry Room

  • The laundry room has 2 washers and 2 dryers. The controls are 110cm high.
  • They are paid for by a top-up card or via the Circuit Laundry App. The top-up card is added to by a machine with controls 135cm high.
  • The room is not locked so is open 24/7.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The shared toilet is located on the ground floor of the houses.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 4m from the entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is poor.
    • There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 82cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.