An Investigation into Access Issues Affecting Historic Built Environment

Alexandra Andani, Jack Rostron and Begum Sertyesilisik^,

Cite this paper:
Alexandra Andani, Jack Rostron and Begum Sertyesilisik. An Investigation into Access Issues Affecting Historic Built Environment. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. 2013; 1(2):21-31. doi: 10.12691/ajcea-1-2-1

Abstract

The need to reconcile access issues and conservation has become ever more important as legislation has become more demanding of service providers. From October 2004 service providers have had a duty of care to provide and improve access within their buildings. This has come into direct conflict with Conservation Legislation which protects the historic value and significance of listed buildings. The paper focuses on the pejorative attitudes that have historically been held against the disabled community and highlights the barriers that the built environment creates. Research aims were to: visit three listed English heritage buildings of differing age and construction and; investigate the changes taken place as a result of the Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) ; investigate whether these adaptations satisfy Approved Document M (ADM) and DDA criteria and have improved access for all while still considering and maintaining conservation and historical requirements. With these aims, following the literature review, three case studies were conducted. The findings revealed that although all three buildings were mostly compliant with the requirements of ADM, there was a lack of commitment to improve access continually. The recommendations for proper building design and implementation relating to access issues for disabled users and able bodied are analysed.

Keywords:
disability access conservatio access audits

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