Built Environment Reasonable Adjustments (BERA): What all staff and line managers need to know

7 May 2026

UCL Inclusive Environments team has introduced a new process for requesting reasonable adjustments to buildings, making it clearer how requests are raised, assessed and delivered.

Designated dog spending area in student accommodation for safe Guide Dog toileting

Built Environment Reasonable Adjustments (BERA) support disabled staff and students at UCL by making physical changes to buildings for accessibility, health or wellbeing reasons. The aim is to remove or reduce physical barriers to participation and ensure UCL’s built environment is inclusive and accessible.

Following a successful pilot, BERA requests can now be submitted through a dedicated route in the MyCampus portal.

What has changed?

Previously, building‑related reasonable adjustments were submitted as general building requests. These are now clearly distinguished as Built Environment Reasonable Adjustment projects within MyCampus. The new way of distinguishing Reasonable Adjustment project requests from general building requests will enable easier communication between requestors and those managing the project, and provide a system for monitoring the frequency and type of requests to inform the design of new buildings to eliminate issues in advance.

Requests submitted will be reviewed by the Inclusive Environments team, who will meet with the individual requesting the adjustment and visit the site where needed. Project progress is reviewed and updated every two weeks until completion. Individuals can also contact the IE team if they have questions before submitting a request.

What types of adjustments are covered?

New tactile map near the UCL main entrance

The BERA process applies to physical features of UCL buildings that create barriers to work or study. This may include:

Furniture/accessories (e.g. desks, chairs, lighting)
Layout and circulation space including labs, teaching spaces, offices
Doors, signage, acoustics, and lighting
WC facilities
Kitchen facilities
Entrance and egress

Examples of adjustments include ergonomic furniture, automatic doors, lighting changes or height‑adjustable equipment.

Separately, for reasonable adjustment requests to loose furniture in centrally bookable Teaching Spaces, requests should be directed to: estates.teachingspaces@ucl.ac.uk, as these will not be covered under the new BERA process.

How to request a BERA and what happens after?

The process is designed to be clear and straightforward:

A disabled staff member or student identifies a barrier in the built environment and raises this with their Line Manager or Departmental Contact.
The Line Manager or Departmental Contact submits a Built Environment Reasonable Adjustment request via MyCampus, including relevant background, access needs and location details.

A step-by-step guide for line mangers and Departmental Contacts

Log into MyCampus.
Click on the ‘Make a project request’ tile.
Describe the situation clearly. Include key information such as the issue/barrier being experienced by the individual, the required change(s), the date by which the project needs to be completed, and name of the individual that the reasonable adjustment is for.
Under ‘priority’ select ‘high’ from the drop-down menu
In the ‘Project description’, note it as a ‘Reasonable Adjustment’ so that your request is prioritised in the system.
Once you have made a request, please inform the Inclusive Environments team at inclusiveenvironments@ucl.ac.uk to give the project priority.

If you cannot see the ‘Make a project request’ tile on MyCampus, please contact your department/divisional manager for approval for the works so that they can make the request.

The Inclusive Environments team reviews the request, meets with the individual and relevant project contacts, and carries out a site visit if required. Requests are managed in a way that is reasonable, proportionate, confidential and responsive to individual needs.

An agreed plan is progressed by the appropriate project team.

Building‑related reasonable adjustments are often complex and time‑consuming. While the new process improves transparency and communication, it does not remove unavoidable constraints such as planning permission, procurement or design complexity.

A shared responsibility

An accessible built environment starts with clear, transparent processes. It is essential that disabled staff and students, alongside their line managers, understand how to request building related reasonable adjustments and what to expect at each stage. This clarity not only supports people to access the adjustments they need, but also reduces uncertainty and builds trust in the process - helping to advance disability equity and create a more inclusive, accessible campus for all,” says Beckie Neumann, Staff Reasonable Adjustments Advisor.

The updated BERA process reflects UCL’s ongoing commitment to removing physical barriers and empowering people with different needs across the university.

Line managers play a key role in initiating referrals and supporting disabled staff throughout the process. To support this responsibility, training is available for staff with line‑management responsibilities for disabled and neurodivergent staff. The training is designed to raise awareness of reasonable adjustments and provide practical guidance on how they can be implemented effectively. Register for training here.

By working together, UCL Estates is transforming and improving physical spaces to enable everyone to work and study safely, independently and with dignity.

Download the latest UCL Reasonable Adjustments Process