London Public Sector Website Accessibility Law

Civil Rights and Equity England 4 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England public bodies must meet UK website and mobile app accessibility requirements and the Equality Act obligations that apply to services and information provided to the public. This guide explains the primary legal instruments, practical compliance steps and local contacts for public authorities operating in London, including how to prepare accessibility statements, remediate content and respond to complaints.

Scope & Governing Instruments

The principal legal instrument for public-sector web and mobile accessibility is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which set technical standards and require accessibility statements and regular monitoring. See the regulations for text and definitions: Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018[1].

Operational guidance for implementing the Regulations and publishing accessibility statements is provided by the UK government: Make your website or app accessible - GOV.UK[2]. London-specific accessibility practice and statements are published by the Greater London Authority and other London public bodies; see the GLA accessibility statement for an example of local practice: GLA accessibility statement[3].

Penalties & Enforcement

The Regulations describe duties and remedies but do not list specified fixed monetary penalties on their face; the text of the Regulations should be consulted for precise obligations and any enforcement mechanisms directly described therein: not specified on the cited page.[1]

  • Fines or statutory monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page; enforcement typically arises through legal action or statutory remedies described in primary legislation or case law.
  • Escalation for repeat or continuing failures: not specified on the cited page; public bodies should treat continuing non-compliance as a material risk and act promptly to remediate.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to publish corrective accessibility statements, requirement to remediate content, judicial review, or other court remedies may be available under broader equality or administrative law frameworks.
  • Enforcer and complaints pathway: there is no single municipal fines office named in the Regulations; affected individuals or organisations can seek resolution with the public body, pursue statutory equality complaints, or seek legal remedy. For guidance on compliance steps and how to publish an accessibility statement see GOV.UK.[2]
  • Local contact for London-level policies and statements: Greater London Authority publishes accessibility information and contacts for its digital services.[3]
Start with an accessibility audit and an up-to-date accessibility statement.

Appeals, Review and Time Limits

The Regulations do not prescribe a single administrative appeal route with set time limits on their face; remedies often follow normal judicial or administrative review processes under UK law and the Equality Act 2010. For procedural detail and required notices consult the primary Regulations and GOV.UK guidance: not specified on the cited page.[1]

Defences and Discretion

Defences such as disproportionate burden or reasonable adjustments are governed by wider equality legislation and case law rather than by the Regulations alone; where the Regulations mention exceptions, consult the legal text and guidance for definitions and limits.

Common Violations

  • Missing or incomplete accessibility statement — often requires publication and regular updates.
  • Non-compliant PDFs and documents linked from public websites.
  • Insufficient captions or transcripts for multimedia.
  • Poor keyboard navigation and lack of ARIA attributes causing assistive technology failures.
Document remediation priorities and set a public timeline for fixes.

Applications & Forms

No central application form is required to comply; public bodies must publish accessibility statements and keep records of audits and remediation. If a specific local authority publishes a form for requests or complaints, it will appear on that authority's official site; GOV.UK provides procedural guidance for public bodies rather than a universal application form.[2]

Practical Compliance Steps

  • Conduct an accessibility audit across websites and mobile apps, documenting failures and priority fixes.
  • Publish or update an accessibility statement that lists known issues, timelines and contact details.
  • Remediate content to meet WCAG 2.1 AA where required by the Regulations and by good practice.
  • Establish monitoring, training and procurement clauses to keep future content compliant.
Accessibility statements must be kept up to date and accurate.

FAQ

Do London public bodies have special rules beyond the UK Regulations?
Most London public bodies are subject to the same national Regulations and Equality Act duties; local policies and statements may add procedural detail, but the Regulations form the base legal requirement.[1]
What should I do if a London council website is inaccessible?
Raise the issue with the council's contact point listed in their accessibility statement, request a timeline for fixes, and if unresolved consider formal complaint routes or legal advice as set out in national guidance.[2]
Where can I find examples of accessibility statements from London bodies?
See the Greater London Authority accessibility statement and other London public bodies' statements for examples of content and contacts.[3]

How-To

  1. Carry out a technical audit of your website and apps against WCAG 2.1 AA and document failures.
  2. Create or update an accessibility statement that lists compliance status, known issues and contact details.
  3. Prioritise fixes and deploy remediation, starting with high-impact barriers for assistive technology users.
  4. Implement ongoing testing, staff training and procurement clauses to sustain accessibility.
  5. Publish monitoring reports and update the accessibility statement after major changes.

Key Takeaways

  • UK Regulations require public-sector websites and apps to meet accessibility standards and publish statements.
  • There are no universally specified monetary fines in the Regulations text; remedies typically involve corrective action or legal processes.
  • Start with an audit, publish an accurate statement, and maintain ongoing monitoring and training.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
  2. [2] Make your website or app accessible - GOV.UK
  3. [3] Greater London Authority accessibility statement

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