TRA 03 - Proximity to amenities

Amenities – Postal facility - KBCN0114

The wording ‘post box’ is intended to allow greater flexibility than previously given, to recognize the changing nature of postal services in the US and internationally. For example, in the US it would now be considered compliant for a building operator to have an in-house postal delivery and collection service provided by the US Postal Service, where this is available to all building users. External post boxes and post offices are also still compliant. 

---

Amenities – Postal facility - KBCN0114

The wording 'postal facility' is intended to allow greater flexibility than previously given, to recognise the changing nature of postal services in the UK and internationally. For example, in the UK it would now be considered compliant for a building operator to have an in-house postal delivery and collection service provided by the Royal Mail, where this is available to all building users. Naturally, post boxes and post offices are also still compliant.

---

Amenities – Access to cash - KBCN0359

Refers to the availability and convenience of reaching an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to access cash. Building users should have access to cash at all relevant times of day. This is interpreted as availability during the local community's typical active hours. For non-residential assessments:

• Relevant times refer to the building’s operating hours or the typical active hours in the local area.
• An ATM inside a building is acceptable as long as its operating hours are convenient for building users.
• This should not require a prior purchase of goods and should provide access to other services, such as checking account balances.

For residential assessments:

• 24‑hour access is preferred; however, access during typical active hours (e.g., 07:00–22:00) is acceptable when 24‑hour provision is not feasible or not available locally.

19-Feb-2026-clarified residential requirements to align with non-domestic schemes. With cash being used far less freque

---

Amenities – Assessed building is one of the listed amenities - KBCN0264

Where the assessed building is itself included in the list of amenities, that particular amenity criterion can be deemed to be met, e.g. a supermarket development itself meets the proximity to food outlet required for a Retail type building.

---

Pre-payment systems - KBCN0293

Pre-payment systems do not meet the criterion for a cash machine and therefore cannot be used as an alternative. Cash machines provide additional services for building users, such as cash to use in other shops, the checking of bank balances, which a pre-payment system would not provide.

---

Safe pedestrian routes – Definition, measurement and verification - KBCN0238

Definition Safe pedestrian routes include sidewalks and safe crossing points, which may be controlled or, for example, be identified by tactile paving, a crossing island or a dropped curb. An element of judgement may be required, in which case justification should be provided. Measurement Distances could be measured, for example, along a sidewalk, across a road at a safe crossing point and along the sidewalk on the other side.  The distance should not be measured diagonally across a road, following the most direct route. Verification The assessor’s site inspection is an important aspect of the assessment and may help to confirm that all relevant information is current and can include photographs of any key areas. This can also help to identify safe crossing points or hazards which may not be apparent from a desktop study. However, web-based evidence may also be used where the assessor is satisfied that it is robust and demonstrates that it is up to date. Where web-based navigation maps (e.g. Google Maps/Street View) are used as supporting evidence, this must include: • Dated and marked-up site plan or a web-based navigation map viewer highlighting: • Current location and type of transport nodes and local amenities. • Current route and distance from the building via a safe pedestrian route. • Plan or map scale. When using web-based evidence for post-construction stage, the assessor must, additionally, provide verification that the information provided for the nodes/amenities is still accurate and up to date.

29 Aug 2025 - Approach to web-based map data at post-construction stage updated and related wording amended accordingly
07 Mar 2024 - No changes have been made. This appears as 'updated' due to an administrative error.
11 Jan 2024 - Wording re-structured for clarity
19 Dec 2023 - Applicability to BIU V6 confirmed

---