Access Statements are required at the Planning and Building Regulations Approval stages of the design process. Development of well structured Access and Design Statements will ensure the maximum accessibility of the proposed development and avoid delays at the Planning and Building Regulations Approval stages.

In some instances, when refurbishing or changing the use of existing building, it may not be possible to meet all of the design requirements required in Part M of the Building Regulations. An Access Statement can be used to make the case for maximising accessibility given unavoidable limitations presented by an existing building structure or site topography.