Issue 35 autumn 2022 - Flipbook - Page 75
Structural Alterations
When considering alterations to the structure of a heritage
site, an access strategy will be needed which sets out what
it is you intend to do and why. This document provides
the details of why the solutions being employed have been
chosen and gives the design team and building owner an
opportunity to set out their vision for the finished works.
This is particularly important if the suggested design falls
outside of the accepted parameters. This strategy should
start by asking six simple questions:
- What needs to be improved – is it the building itself, the
way it’s managed or a combination of the two?
Accessibility
In 2010, the Equality Act came into force requiring all
buildings to have disabled access. The access requirements go further than just the obvious as it also covers
people who are visiting and or working in the building.
Heritage sites must ensure equal access for every user, or
visitor into all parts including the historical part/building.
Part M of the Building Regulations provides designers
with guidance on access to and use of buildings but there
are so many intricacies involved with historical sites that
to meet every requirement can often be challenging. This
is often due to the layout of the building or strict planning
controls that affect any alterations or works to these types
of buildings.
- What would be a reasonable adjustment?
- What are the statutory obligations that must be met?
Access is an important part of a sustainable approach to
caring for our historic environment and sensitive alterations will always consider what it is that makes the building significant or special. The guiding principle when it
comes to heritage sites is to make them accessible, at the
same time as ensuring responsible care of the historic environment. This can be achieved with thoughtful and effective design that is sympathetic to the existing structure.
- Which are the conservation considerations that must
be considered?
- Who is responsible for balancing these?
- How much will it cost and how long is it going to take?
Historic England recommends early consultation with
building control, planning departments and in some cases
the fire brigade to help ensure that the correct processes
are followed and that the design is both sympathetic,
compliant, and safe for the users/occupants.
Part M of the Building Regulations stipulates that: The
aim is to improve accessibility where practically possible,
provided the work does not prejudice the character of the
building or increase the risk of long-term deterioration to
the building fabric or fittings.
Solutions for Steps
For many heritage buildings, narrow points of entry or
steep steps without handrails can cause issues and can be
dealt with under the Equality Act 2010. There are several
solutions when considering steps, each providing a different way of dealing with access to ensure those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility can gain entry to some of
our most historic buildings. The following solutions have
all been successfully implemented at heritage sites in the
UK and need to be assessed individually for their suitability
for a specific building and should form part of a wellmanaged environment:
- Provide flat and level access. This will require significant
works to be done to the structure of the building to
change the existing access point.
Garden Access
When considering alterations to a site, operators, designers, and contractors should also be thinking about the gardens that frequently go hand in hand with the building
itself. Whilst alterations to the gardens may seem simple,
planning permission may be required and, at the very
least, professional guidance on appropriate alterations
should be sought. It’s about balancing the needs of access
with the needs of conservation. Here are some examples
of adjustments that should be considered and evaluated:
- Replacing existing gravel surfaces with self-binding
gravel to provide a firmer surface
- Incorporating a level route within an area which has
an uneven surface
- Provide temporary ramps that can be removed at a later
point. These are not an ideal solution but can provide
a short-term measure to enable access.
- Providing alternative routes and adding appropriate
signage
- Provide semi-permanent ramps. This is particularly
useful if a longer-term solution is being sought but the
site is holding an event that is likely to increase visitor
numbers significantly. Temporary ramps need not
necessarily look temporary but are often built from
materials such as wood which can be sensitively
removed.
- Using interpretation or multimedia devices to provide
alternative access to areas that remain physically
inaccessible
- Using trained staff and guided tours as an alternative
to making physical changes
Historic England has many more suggestions as to the
ways in which gardens and the surrounding areas of historic sites can be altered to provide the greatest level of
access. You will find this in their guidance document: Easy
Access to Historic Buildings.
- Provide a permanent ramp. This will either be shallow
or steeper in its gradient which will be determined by
the building itself and its proximity to other structures.
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