Access to Historic Properties: A Look Forward: Fid-Bau Portal

Access to Historic Properties: A Look Forward

Foster, Lisa

In September 1994, the Departments of the Environment and National Heritage jointly published Planning and Policy Guidance Note 15. PPG 15 contains the first guidance on access for disabled people from the Department of National Heritage. A year later, in October 1995, English Heritage published its guidance note, Easy Access to Historic Properties. These guidance documents, in part, anticipate the passage of the Government's Disability Discrimination Bill in November 1995. The Easy Access Guidance Note is intended to provide practical guidance on some of die issues related to the improvement of physical access to historic properties. Both documents raise important policy issues on the reconciliation of access and conservation. This paper explains the research behind some of die concepts adopted by the Guidance Note with a look at two case studies which influenced the development of the guidance. Both the Bill and the Guidance Note make reference to future regulations. This paper concludes with a look at how such regulations were framed following the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (the ADA). Special regulations for historic buildings exempt and protect historic buildings from harmful access alterations, yet still attempt to find a balance between access and conservation goals.