Local planning authorities have a duty to protect and enhance the country’s heritage. Some areas have special protection against certain developments, perhaps because:

• they contain attractive landscape (like national parks)
• they contain rare and/or interesting plants and wildlife
• there is a need to control the spread of towns and villages into open countryside

Some smaller areas of land also contain ancient monuments that must not be damaged. Some buildings are specially protected – or ‘listed’ – because of their architectural or historic interest. Therefore listed building consent will be required for any development or demolition work on such buildings.

It is often assumed that access improvements conflict directly with the need to preserve the original character of listed buildings and conservation areas. However, with careful thought and a little imagination, access provisions can be implemented that satisfy both conservation requirements and disabled people’s needs.

Key advice for access groups: English Heritage and CADW have produced guides which look at how access and conservation can be considered together.

English Heritage – Easy Access to Historic Buildings

CADW – Overcoming the Barriers: Providing Physical Access to Historic Buildings