Mobility Access building control and regs help needed

[harrythehedgehog]

Hi,

 

I was wondering if you can help, please. For mobility reasons I intend to make some changes to access to my house and wanted to know if I have to inform building control of what I intend to do, whether I need to follow building regulations and or if there is anything else I need to do to make my changes legally compliant.

 

The short version is I intend to make mobility access to my house, what do I need to do to make it legally compliant.

 

The long version is:- My front door is raised from ground level with access coming from steps that run along the face of the house.

 

These steps are currently too steep so I simply intend to add more to make the gradient less severe.

 

Space is tight with a neighbouring boundary so I intend to make the depth of the step as short as possible.

 

I have looked at a few publications which mention a minimum turning circle of 1200mm, this wouldn't be possible with the space that I have.

 

So I would be very grateful if you would let me know if what I intend to do is permitted, any people/organisations I need to inform, whether I need to make a building control application or submit something so it appears on the building control search, what building regulations I need to adhere to and any other factors I need to be aware of.

 

Also, I currently have an open boundary with my neighbour, would these mobility steps impinge on him at all in terms of them installing a fence or anything on their side of the boundary in the future?

 

I appreciate that there a lot of questions in here, I am very new to all this and seems more complicated than I initially thought and just want to make sure that I am not breaking any laws and doing it properly.

 

Any help would be really appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Harry

[Carrerahill]

So this is house steps in the garden having a gradient revision basically? 

 

I'd say just do it, there are no laws and there is no "legally" here. It is building standards, yes non-compliance and fatalities caused by non-compliance can lead to legal proceedings but you want to alter some steps. In fact, given you can add a porch under PD with no BC there really isn't an issue here.

 

If I wanted to go and change levels in my front garden right now and alter steps there is nothing to stop me doing that as a job in isolation, if that was part of an extension or build then it is a different story because it becomes part of a bigger picture. 

 

Not sure of your exact situation but just be careful if changing levels you don't bridge damp proof courses in walls or anything on your house which could cause damp, very simply, don't pile material up against your house.

 

As for the boundary, just don't build over it, I assume levels are not going to change drastically here, you are just wanting to iron out the steps a bit - can you photograph your house steps and show us what needs done.  

 

 

 

 

[ToughButterCup]

39 minutes ago, harrythehedgehog said:

...

So I would be very grateful if you would let me know if what I intend to do is permitted, any people/organisations I need to inform, whether I need to make a building control application or submit something

...

 

Just do it. Not doing it would be worse for all.

[harrythehedgehog]

Thanks for  both your replies.

 

Yes, a gradient revision and addition.

 

I have attached a picture

 

https://imgur.com/a/jtXwz3T

 

So I intend to put in two additional steps and increase the depth for a wheelchair.

 

By my calculations it will not leave 1200mm space, to do this would encroach into the boundary(red line) and somebody said that I could not claim it as a mobility access and get it signed off -I didn't really understand this, I know absolutely nothing about any of this.

 

My neighbour has previously broached putting up a fence on his side of the boundary, now I think there is still enough room for a wheelchair but this 1200mm concerned me. We do not get on and he has caused problems before and has threatened to take me to court about something daft so am very conscious of getting it done to the letter of the law because if he can complain, he will. And I am assuming there is no bizarre legislation that would stop him building his fence on his property near my mobility access? I dont want to cause problems, just make it easier for a family member to get in the house.

Edited January 27, 2021 by harrythehedgehog
additional question

[Temp]

 

Neighbours can be annoying.  

 

If you are just removing the bottom step and replacing it with a few more I would just do it. However I would wait until the neighbour is out and give the edge of the bottom step a wack with a sledge hammer so that its obviously "damaged" and needs "repairing". These delivery drivers can be so careless. Take a photo of broken step in case you need evidence.

 

If you are planning more major work like replacing the front door and building a wheelchair ramp then I suspect that would have to comply with the Building Regs. These do specify the dimensions of all this stuff including things like the width of the ramp. However I think that may only have to be 900mm wide as its a "private part" not a "communal part" - I think the latter applies to ramps at the entrance to flats?  If you would prefer to do this we might be able to come up with other ideas.

 

You might also see if the council has any grants for making houses more accessible? 

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by Temp

[joe90]

I vote “just get on with it.” Don’t be bullied. Building regs would be required fir a new build or major change, but this is not (just be careful to not cover that air brick, or extend it under the new steps. Let us know how you get on ?

[Mr Punter]

From the photo it looks like about 600mm from pavement to threshold.  There is not enough room to make a ramp for a wheelchair and a standard wheelchair cannot negotiate steps.  You would struggle even for ambulant disabled access.