Broadening Access to Our Historical Heritage

How do you provide dignified access for disabled people to a historic building without damaging its special architectural interest? When the final stage of requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act comes into force in 2004, this is a question that the owners of all listed buildings in public use will be required to answer. English Heritage is issuing extended guidance to prepare owners of listed buildings for the forthcoming regulation. It has already helped many nationally important buildings reconcile the needs of access and heritage.

English Heritage's work falls into three main categories: identifying buildings of historical or architectural interest and ancient monuments for protection; advising property owners and local planning authorities on proposals affecting listed buildings and conservation areas and increasing the public's understanding of and broadening their access to their heritage. It is also responsible for the management and presentation of over 400 historic properties and monuments in the nations care. More than five million people visited these sites in the past year.

English Heritage has commissioned two access consultants, Lisa Foster and John Adams, to produce an updated version of its guide - Easy Access to Historic Properties. The guide will help owners approach the access problems of their buildings and determine if access can be made.

Lisa Foster comments, "Successful disability access schemes in a historic context share a single principle - that no two solutions are alike! There are many typical solutions but there is no DDA compliant access standard that can be applied to all listed buildings. Designers and Architects must use the individual features of the site to develop a unique solution."

English Heritage's aim is to encourage excellent access schemes, sensitive to their historic settings, that do not separate those with restricted mobility from other visitors.

Although English Heritage is, in part, funded by the Government, it relies on income from other sources to carry out its excellent work. A large portion of this comes from an innovative membership scheme, giving the public unlimited access to all of its sites for a relatively small outlay.

If you are interested in joining English Heritage or would simply like to learn more about its fascinating work, visit the informative web site at: www.english-heritage.org.uk