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Temporary and managed solutions
This Fact Sheet aims to strike a balance between access and conservation requirements.
Early pre-application discussions with Conservation Officers and Access Officers from Local Authorities, Local Access Groups and, where appropriate, your own staff can ease the handling of applications for Listed building consent, and other approvals. They can also ensure the best chance of securing adequate access measures to meet conservation requirements.
Where there is a physical barrier to accessing a building the Disability Discrimination
Act 1995 places a duty on a service provider to take reasonable steps to:
The first step towards satisfying these aims is a comprehensive assessment
of an historic property's access requirements resulting in an Access Plan. The
assessment should:
In drawing up an Access Plan it will be necessary to evaluate suitable access devices to ease movement at level changes. Options include:
All permanent devices will impact to some degree on architectural details such as plinths, column bases, staircases, ironwork and door openings. It is important that these features should not be disturbed, obscured or altered if they contribute significantly to the property's special character or design composition.
Ramps in particular should take advantage of any available slope and be in sympathy with the fabric and setting of the building. When new handrails, or similar devices are proposed their design and fabric should either defer to precedent or be so designed that the special interest of the building is not diminished. Where appropriate the use of landscaping should be used to remove the impact of the ramp (see 6.2 Ramps and 6.4 Handrails).
In large buildings the installation of an integrated and suitably-sized, passenger lift may be feasible, but it is unlikely to be an appropriate solution for smaller properties where dedicated platform or stair lifts will offer a more viable means of moving from one level to another. In general, mechanical devices are best located in the less sensitive parts of the property and are more suited to internal than external use as they require supervision and regular maintenance (see 6.7 Lifts).
When permanent intervention is not practicable because of conservation, cost or other constraints, a temporary arrangement may be a feasible alternative. In general, the design and construction of temporary facilities should be approached in the same manner as permanent ones to minimise their visual impact and provide the greatest degree of integration and independence. In addition, the design should be capable of removal without damage to the fabric of the building
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