HHCExecsummaries

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Contents

1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 11.1 Contents of this document ............................................................................... 11.2 Funding............................................................................................................ 11.3 How the Plans fit together and what happens next.......................................... 1

2 Executive Summary of Conservation Management Plan............................... 42.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 42.2 Content ............................................................................................................ 42.3 The Significance of the Hunsbury Hill Centre .................................................. 52.4 Associated documents..................................................................................... 52.5 Conservation policies....................................................................................... 62.6 The use of the Conservation Management Plan.............................................. 8

3 Executive Summary of Audience Development Plan..................................... 93.1 The Brief .......................................................................................................... 93.2 Context ............................................................................................................ 93.3 Local Demographics ........................................................................................ 93.4 Tourism............................................................................................................ 93.5 Education context .......................................................................................... 103.6 Methodology .................................................................................................. 103.7 Current audiences.......................................................................................... 103.8 Future audiences ........................................................................................... 103.9 Audience Development Objectives................................................................ 113.10Audience Development Programme.............................................................. 113.11Audience Development Plan.......................................................................... 143.12Monitoring and Evaluation ............................................................................. 143.13The Full Audience Development Plan............................................................ 14

4 Executive Summary of Access Plan.............................................................. 154.1 The Context and Brief.................................................................................... 154.2 Accessibility Context...................................................................................... 154.3 Local Demographics. ..................................................................................... 154.4 Key Legislation. ............................................................................................. 154.5 Accessibility Principles................................................................................... 154.6 Access Audit. ................................................................................................. 164.7 Consultation with Disabled People. ............................................................... 164.8 Travelling to the Hunsbury Hill Centre. .......................................................... 164.9 Results of Consultations. ............................................................................... 164.10Equality and Diversity Sensitivity Training. .................................................... 174.11Marketing and Promotion Strategy. ............................................................... 174.12Summary of the findings of the Access Audit................................................. 174.13Access Audit Key Recommendations. ........................................................ 18

5 List of Other Documents and Information available..................................... 19


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1 Introduction

1.1 Contents of this document

This document includes the Executives Summaries from three plans that have been

commissioned by Northamptonshire ACRE (NACRE) for the Hunsbury Hill CentreRestoration Project:

Conservation Management Plan - explains the heritage significance of thesite and sets out what NACRE will do to look after it in any future use,alteration, development, management or repair. This piece of work has beencarried out by Richard Wood of DEK Architects, and, as part of this piece ofwork, a Bats and Nesting Birds Survey, a Condition Survey and a gazeteer(database) of room datasheets has been prepared.

Audience Development Plan provides a structure for planning the specific

activities that will allow Northamptonshire ACRE to reach existing and newtarget audiences and to offer them a high-quality experience that presents andinterprets the heritage of the site. This piece of work has been carried out byNicky Boden.

Access Plan identifies the barriers to access, priorities for overcoming theseand itemised action plan. These barriers may be organisational, physical,sensory, intellectual, social and cultural, and financial. This piece of work hasbeen carried out by Phil Chambers of CEM Ltd.

1.2 Funding

Northamptonshire ACRE has funded these pieces of work thanks to a ProjectPlanning Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with matched funding from the PhillipsCharitable Trust and Northamptonshire ACRE's reserves. The time that members ofthe Project Steering Group have contributed as volunteers has also been attributedas matched funding 'in-kind', according to the rates accepted by the Heritage LotteryFund.

1.3 How the Plans fit together and what happens next

Figure 1 gives a summary flow diagram of how the Plans fit together. In the periodJuly to September 2007 there will be a process of taking the recommendations fromthe three Plans and finalising the details of the overall project scheme. The intention

is to make a further application to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding bodiesfor the capital works involved in realising the vision of:

In 3 years time Northamptonshire ACRE would like the Hunsbury Hill Centre to be anestablished site of heritage significance on the tourist map that people can visit byappointment or on special Open Days and offers a programme of educationalactivities with a building specifically set up for educational visits.

The cost of the capital works will depend upon the final detail of the scheme, butearly indications are that the total project cost will be in the region of 1m, in whichcase the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund would be in the region of 900,000

and 100,000 matched funding would need to be raised from other sources.


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Figure 1: Hunsbury Hill Centre (HHC) Restoration ProjectStages and Inter-relationship of Documents

Access Audit and Research Identify barriers to access

by all for current uses ofsite

Identify potential barriersto access by all forpossible new uses of siteand new audiences

Consultations with keystakeholders

Audience Research Review other

heritage attractionsin vicinity

Survey current andpotential newaudiences

Focus groups andconsultation with keystakeholders

Condition Survey andHistoric Research

Review informationalready known andidentify gaps

Historic report Condition Survey Detailed surveys of

each room fordatasheets

AudienceDevelopment Plan

Identifies currentand potential newaudiences and theirrequirements

SWOT analysis PEST analysis

Action Plan Local Strategic

Context

Access Plan

Details access barriersand solutions

Action Plan and costsfor options of improvedaccess for current andnew audiences

Guidance on requiredstandards and how toachieve these

ConservationManagement Plan

Description ofHHC

Assessment ofhistoricalsignificance

IdentifiedVulnerabilities

ConservationPolicies

Options Appraisal

Description of options Financial implications of each option Organisational Implications of each

option

Initial Strategic Commitment

Agree commitment to restore HHC

Initial access statement with broadprinciples

Feasibility Study

Architect's report on whatmight be possible

Broad costs involved

Fundraising for Project Planning Phase Heritage Lottery Fund application Local Trusts applications

Completion of Project Planning Grant funded work


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Steering Group & Board ofTrustees agree preferredoption

Fundraising for Development andCapital Phase

Heritage Lottery Fund application Local Trusts applications Local Authority applications

Other general fundraising

Other documents required

Training Plan

Outline Business Plan Education Policy Accurate Budget Forecast of income and

spending Equal Opportunities

policies Charging or pricing policy Energy, transport and

environmental policies

If Fundraising is Successful

Development Phase Architect - detailed drawings Planning Permission Planning Supervisor Quantity Surveyor - detailed

costs Mechanical Engineer Electrical Engineer Structural Engineer Project Manager

Construction/ImplementationPhase

Tendering for construction

contract(s) Contractors on site All professionals from

Development Phasesupervising/monitoringprogress


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2 Executive Summary of Conservation Management Plan

Full report and summary by Richard Wood of DEK ArchitectsThis summary outlines the purpose of the Conservation Management Plan andthe policies which have been adopted for the care of, and assessment of the

impact of proposals for change to, the buildings and grounds at the HunsburyHill Centre to protect the historic significance of the site. The term site meansthe buildings and their content and the grounds which provide their setting. Thesummary provides a description of the content of the full Plan and associateddocuments. For further details on any aspect of the content reference should bemade to the full Conservation Management Plan.

2.1 Introduction

The purpose of the Conservation Management Plan is to provide a frameworkagainst which proposals for repair or change and general managementdecisions which affect the Hunsbury Hill Centre (HHC) property can beassessed to ensure that there is no adverse effect on its significance.

The Plan aims to look at all aspects of the site, its history, context, past andcurrent usage, which contribute to its significance. It is a guide which should beaccessible to all who have an interest in the site, should be regularlyused toassess the impact of proposed repairs and alterations, and reviewed andrevised to incorporate new information and the effects of change.

2.2 Content

The content of the Plan is based on the description in Conservation

Management Plans published by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Plan isproduced to demonstrate a full understanding of the historic site and to providebackground information which will allow a thorough understanding of the impactof changes and the need for conservation of the site. This will allow anyproposal for change to be assessed against the policies set out in the Plan toensure that the historic significance of the site is protected for present andfuture generations.

The Plan contains information under the following headings:

Summary - a summary of the plan content

Background - information on the site, owners organisation, purpose of the

Plan, scope and limitations, consultation and adoption stages. Understanding the site - information on the site, historical background, social

history, management, details of the sites interest and areas for furtherinvestigation.

Assessment of significance - details of the significance of the site,architectural context of the buildings, historical development, its communityvalue and cultural importance, its context in history and the geography of thearea, details of ecology and wildlife, its educational and recreational valueand the historical significance of the site as a whole and its elements.

Vulnerability and related items - present and proposed uses, sensitivity ofelements of the site, areas of conflict, management issues, external factorsaffecting the site, accessibility, health and safety issues, communityexpectations, the physical condition of buildings, previous alterations and


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statutory control, boundaries, the setting of the site and limitations onresources.

Conservation policies - policies for the use, management and maintenanceof the site, conservation philosophy and protection of the historic interest,potential for change, requirements for protection of the setting, coordination

of elements of the site, improvement to access and interpretation, the impactof alterations, provision of facilities for visitors, statutory requirements andmaintaining site records.

Implementation and review - the use of the Plan and recommendations forreview.Appendices contain further information and references to where moredetails of aspects of the site referred to in the Plan can be found. Advice onfurther reading material and a glossary are included.

2.3 The Significance of the Hunsbury Hill Centre

The Hunsbury Hill Centrehouses administration and community facilities forNorthamptonshire ACRE, the Rural Community Council for Northamptonshire.The site comprises a group of farm buildings built in 1770 with adjacent landproviding access and car parking, woodland and a sloping paddock, all thatremains of the original farm land. The significance of the site lies in theconstruction of the farm buildings as a model farm shortly after the enclosure ofthe land. The original farm was built in an octagonal shape around a centralcourtyard, this arrangement making best use of the farming methods of theperiod. This arrangement of a complete farm built at one time is called a modelfarm.

Subsequent alterations and additions have occurred but the farmhouse andmost of the barns around the courtyard which date from the original constructionare substantially unaltered. It is this which gives special significance to the site.The site was in use as a working farm until 1976 when it was acquired by theNorthampton Development Corporation and leased by the NorthamptonshireACRE who later purchased the freehold. Some farming activities continued after1976 on a much smaller scale but ceased when the land was developed fornew access roads and housing.

The construction of a model farm is rare, most farms developing after enclosureof the land from existing farmsteads. Hunsbury Hill Farm is believed to be one

of the earliest model farms in the county and perhaps the best preserved.

2.4 Associated documents

In conjunction with the plan the following separate documents have beenprepared to provide more detailed information on elements of the site. There isalso a site archive containing photographs and documents relating to the sitewhich may be accessed for detailed information as well as documents in theCounty Archive.

The key associated documents are:

Condition Survey of the buildings, 2006 - a detailed description of the

current condition of the buildings and recommendations for repair


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Maintenance Plan - a schedule of the repairs recommended in the ConditionSurvey with recommendations for regular maintenance requirements

Building database - a detailed description of the buildings and theirarchitectural and historic features

Photographic archive index - an index of all known photographs of the site

Audience Development Plan - an assessment of the existing and potentialuses of the site (see section 3 of this Executive Summary)

Access Plan - a review of the accessibility of the site and recommendationsfor improved access (see section 4 of this Executive Summary)

Figure 2 The Hunsbury Hill Centre Date1 Offices (Farmhouse) C182 Mrs Burmans Cottage (hog sty & cow house) C193 High Barn (Hay Barn) C18/C19

4 Bar (Cattle Hovel) C185 Cart Hovel C186 BBQ area (Cattle Hovel) C187 Cattle shed C198-9 Cattle shed C1910 Store C1911 Cattle shed C1912 Low Barn (wood hovel & stable) C1913 Open space (barn) C1814 Parking area (Implement shed) C20

2.5 Conservation policies

Section 6 of the Plan sets out the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees at ameeting on 21 February 2007. These will be used as a basis for assessment ofall proposals for maintenance of and alteration to the site. The policies


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(numbered as set out in the full Conservation Management Plan) are set out infull below:

6.1 Identifying appropriate usesUses of the Centre will be considered against the effect of the use on the

historic fabric and character of the site. Where a use is not consideredappropriate to the available building stock an alternative facility may beconsidered in other buildings which may require refurbishment to accommodatethe use, or if none can be identified, outside the site.

6.2 Management of the CentreOperational decisions in relation to the management of the Centre shouldcontinue to consider the conservation of the site and these decisions will nowbe reviewedagainst the policies set out in this Plan.

6.3 Maintaining the site

The ACRE trustees should continue toensure the future conservation of the sitethrough a regular programme of inspection, maintenance and repair inaccordance with priorities identified in the Condition Survey of the buildings andrecommendations relating to other aspects of the site and the effect ofproposals for repair shall be considered against this Plan.

6.4 Conservation philosophyRepair and maintenance works on the site buildings will be carried out usingmaterials and methods of workmanship in accordance with acknowledgedmethods of conservative repair. Alterations should be carried out in a way whichwill allow a reversion to the previous form without loss of historic fabric ormaterials. The effect of work on specific features of the site may require adviceto be sought from specialist consultants.

6.5 Protection of the siteThe ACRE will endeavour to maintain the historic integrity of the site andconsider all project proposals against the policies set out in this Plan.

6.6 Potential for development of the siteAll project proposals shall be considered against this Plan to assess the effecton the site and ensure that no adverse effect on the significance or removal of

historic material results.

6.7 Protection of the settingAll external influences which may affect the significance of the site shall bemonitored and representations made as appropriate to resist proposals whichcould have an adverse effect on the site or its environment.

6.8 Coordination of elements of the siteThe different features of the site will be considered in the context of the wholesite and consideration will be given to the effect of proposals for one element onother elements of the site.


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6.9 Improvement of accessProposals for improved access and facilities for persons with disabilities shall beencouraged but will need to be assessed against the policies of this Plan. Theeffect of these measures must be balanced against the safeguarding of thesignificance of historic buildings and site while ensuring that the requirements of

statutory regulations are met.

6.10 Interpretation of the siteWherever public access is offered to the buildings and environs, considerationshould be given to providing information which will allow a full appreciation andunderstanding of the site.

6.11 Impact of alterationsThe impact of repairs and alterations to the site will be considered byundertaking an impact assessment for all projects affecting the site.

6.12 Provision of visitor facilitiesProposals which provide improvement of facilities for visitors shall beencouraged but will need to be assessed against the policies of this Plan.

6.13 Statutory requirementsAll proposals shall be processed through the statutory control proceduresrelating to listed buildings and protection of ecology. The requirements of newlegislation and regulations should be assessed so that the Centre can beadvised of the likely effect of legislative changes. This Plan cannot overridelegislative requirements but the effects should be considered against thepolicies of this Plan.

6.14 Maintaining the site recordsBefore any alterations are undertaken the affected area will be recorded and theinformation added to the site archive records. Archive material will be madeavailable to interested parties. Any new material obtained should be reviewedfor inclusion in the site archive.

2.6 The use of the Conservation Management Plan

The Plan should be used as a working document by all connected with the siteand referred to when any work on the elements of the site is proposed. This will

allow all repair and alteration works to be assessed and the impact of theproposals determined against the adopted polices which aim to conserve thesignificance of the site.

When changes are made to buildings, their setting or contents, these changesshould be recorded and the Plan, associated documents and the site recordsupdated. The Plan should be reviewed to take account of changes to thephysical environment, relevant legislation and to incorporate new or additionalinformation as it becomes available.


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3 Executive Summary of Audience Development Plan

Full report and summary by Nicky Boden

3.1 The Brief

Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) has beenawarded a Heritage Lottery Fund Planning Grant for the restoration of theHunsbury Hill Centre (HHC). The Centre is a Grade II listed 18th Century modelfarm which includes a large farmhouse, barns, animal sheds and hovels setaround an octagonal courtyard. The Centre accommodates offices forNorthampton ACRE, (located in the farmhouse) and two large barns which areavailable for hire for business and community use.

NACRE has a vision for the future development of the site, which focusesparticularly on developing provision for the education and community sectors.The vision is:

In 3 years time Northamptonshire ACRE would like the Hunsbury Hill Centre tobe an established site of heritage significance on the tourist map that peoplecan visit by appointment or on special Open Days and offers a programme ofeducational activities with a building specifically set up for educational visits.

This Audience Development Plan (ADP) is informed by this vision and by twoother interrelated plans, the Access Plan and the Conservation ManagementPlan. It seeks to provide an overview of existing users and identifies missingand potential new audiences for the Centre and potential ways of increasing

audience participation.

3.2 Context

The ADP meets specific key objectives of the county-wide cultural strategy,Cultural Pride developed in 2003 for Northamptonshire. The Plan is alsoinformed by the findings of previous research into audiences who visit heritageand rural sites commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

3.3 Local Demographics

The local demographics help to contextualize potential audiences and give apicture of the likely profile of new audiences in the area in terms of age, gender,

ethnicity, work status and deprivation. Statistics from the 2001 Census indicatethat the majority of local visitors to HHC are likely to be white, middle aged andreasonably affluent. They are less likely to come from an ethnic group. Statisticsillustrate that the percentage of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) groups inNorthamptonshire in 2001 was lower than the national average, and groups thatdo live in the area comprise predominantly of Black Caribbean and Indianethnic groups, with smaller numbers of Bangladeshi and Pakistani people.

3.4 Tourism

Northamptonshire is rich in cultural and rural heritage and is often described asthe county of squires and spires. There are a large number of historic housesand many open areas of land and forested areas. However, there are currentlyvery few sites which provide opportunities for visitors to learn about agricultural


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history and in particular farming. There is, therefore, considerable potential forHHC to offer a different visitor experience drawing on its unique selling points.These include the rich agricultural heritage, ancient history of the site, idyllicsemi-rural site and an excellent location within easy access of the motorwaynetwork and therefore accessible to visitors from across the region.

3.5 Education context

A number of recent education initiatives including the Out of the ClassroomManifesto, the Growing Schools agenda and the Year of Farming (2007-2008), provide a valuable context for HHC to develop a formal educationprogramme. Initiatives, such as these, help to endorse the importance ofintegrating outdoor learning activities into everyday teaching practice. There arealso numerous potential links to the National Curriculum, in particular tosubjects such as History, Geography and Science, with particularly strongreferences to Key Stages 1 and 2.

3.6 MethodologyThe methodology for this ADP has focused on the following potentialaudiences: the general visitors (including local and neighbouring populations);schools; young people; special interest and community groups. Publicconsultation has included: the distribution of 4 questionnaires designed fordifferent audiences; 3 focus group meetings and meetings with stakeholdersand potential partners, including young people from Northampton Youth Forum.Staff from NACRE and representatives from the Restoration Project SteeringGroup have also participated in workshops to analyse the strengths, weakness,opportunities and threats involved in developing the site for new audiences.

Consultation has focused on gauging current perceptions and interest in HHC,the potential for education/community use of the site and preferences regardingthe future development of the site including aspects such as interpretation,activities and facilities.

3.7 Current audiences

HHC has over 12,000 visitors using the site each year. The majority of bookingsare from the general public followed by statutory organisations and companies.The existing users who responded to the consultation were predominantlywhite, female, middle aged, employed. About 50% had families with dependent

children and most have visited the site for the purpose of either a social eventor meeting.

The majority of existing users who responded to the consultation expressed aninterest in visiting heritage sites and would be interested in visiting HHC as aheritage site rather than just as a venue for meetings and events. Theyparticularly like the tranquillity and original character of the setting and theaccessibility of the location, although some users have expressed that thecurrent facilities could be upgraded.

3.8 Future audiences

From the analysis of the data collected during the consultation period andNACREs database of previous users, it is clear that there are a number of


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groups of people who can generally be considered as missing or potentialaudiences for HHC. They include:

General public (particularly local and neighbouring populations)

Visitors with disabilities

BME visitors Elderly visitors

Schools and other education groups

Young People

Socially disadvantaged/low incomes

Family groups

These groups are similar to the profile of non-users identified in previousresearch commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

3.9 Audience Development ObjectivesThe Audience Development Plan has identified a number of objectives fordeveloping audiences at HHC. They include:

Promote the educational value of HHC to schools, FE and HE providerslocally and regionally.

Promote the better understanding and enjoyment of HHC as a uniqueheritage site amongst wider audiences particularly those who are currentlyunder-represented in visiting the Centre.

Improve existing audiences understanding and enjoyment of HHC throughenhanced facilities, services and information provision.

Raise awareness of HHC and its enhanced facilities and services

regionally and nationally. Develop partnerships and build relationships with local groups and

organisations to explore joint working/funding opportunities.

3.10 Audience Development Programme

A number of recommendations have been developed which complement thevision of NACRE. These include:

a) Awareness raisingA priority for HHC is to raise awareness of the heritage value of the site

particularly amongst existing and new audiences. Recommendations includedeveloping new promotional material, re-designing the website and developingstronger partnerships with the local press to follow the story of the restorationof HHC. Specific educational publicity also needs to be developed to attract theschools market and a database compiled with up-to-date contact details. HHCshould also explore the scope for partnerships with the local authority to hosttraining events for teachers which would provide an ideal opportunity toshowcase the site.

b) Access improvementsA number of changes need to be put in place to make the Centre more

accessible. The Access Plan outlines these recommendations in detail and anumber have informed the ADP. Particular recommendations include the need


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to develop multi media interpretation, clear signage, ensure promotionalmaterial incorporates inclusive design and utilises alternative marketing formatsand developing relationships with under-represented groups.

c) Partnership Development

There is scope for NACRE to utilise its expertise in building mutually beneficialpartnerships by developing strong relationships with local groups, organisationsand regional agencies in the area, particularly local schools and communitygroups. Partnerships could provide joint funding and marketing opportunities orsupport through work placement and voluntary assistance.

d) Information and interpretationHHC needs to develop an interpretation programme which ensures the Centreis as relevant, accessible and interesting to as wide a range of people aspossible. An overarching Interpretation Policy and Strategy should bedeveloped which takes into account visitors preferences and the needs for

multi-media formats to ensure access of information for all. Numerous differentapproaches could be developed to interpret the site, for example an informationbooklet, a living history film, computer actives, hands on interpretation such ashandling materials, walks and talks programmes and the possible futuredevelopment of a small interpretation Centre.

e) Activities and eventsNACRE should develop a varied and interesting programme of events andactivities when the site is open to the public. Activities should be aimed at awide audience including underrepresented groups and could include sensoryfarm trails, nature and woodland walks, holiday activities, and Open Days linkedto national events such as Heritage Open Days, Architecture Week and FamilyLearning Week, etc

f) Facilities and servicesIt is important to provide all visitors with the appropriate quality and quantity offacilities and services to ensure an enjoyable, supportive and safe visit. IfNACRE do decide to host school visits, they will need to provide facilities toaccommodate the minimum of one class of approximately 30 pupils, who wouldstay on site for at least half a day or a full day. NACRE should also be awarethat some schools may wish to bring more pupils, up to two classes, which

would be approximately 60 pupils. Given the potential schools market, certainfacilities will be essential to accommodate new audiences, including: a safedrop off point for coaches, adequate toilet provision and sinks, an indoor orcovered outdoor space for packed lunch and an area to leave bags and coats.NACRE should also consider upgrading their current kitchen facilities andimproving the car park area.

g) EducationIf NACRE is to implement an Education Programme, it should be aimed atincreasing the knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of all visitors to the site,including existing and potential new visitors. It should offer opportunities for

visitors of all ages to:


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Learn about the history and heritage of the farm and local environment

Develop new skills

Handle original or replica artefacts

Engage in practical workshops

Explore and discover the flora and fauna in the woodlands

Participate in and enjoy a programme of special events and activities.

Recommendations from the consultation with teachers and educators include:

Converting some of the existing hovels and sheds into a multipurposeeducational resource room;

Developing a mini farm area with livestock in the outer yard area;

Programming activities which relate to the History, Geography andScience curriculum areas;

Developing environmental education projects and producingteachers/group leaders resource materials.

There is also considerable scope to develop partnerships with Furtherand Higher Education institutions and adult and community learninggroups.

h) Volunteers/FriendsOpportunities could be developed for local people to get involved throughvolunteering or becoming a friend of HHC to support the future development ofthe site through volunteering, profile and fund raising activities.

i) TravelA number of recommendations concerning travel have been highlighted in the

Access Plan. NACRE could also explore the possibility of using a mini busshuttle service from the Hunsbury Hill Country Park to HHC during Open Day(to relieve the pressure on the car park).

j) ChargesThe majority of people (93%) who responded to the consultation said they wereprepared to pay an entrance fee, but HHC should bear in mind that cost can bea real barrier for visitors, particularly those from under-represented groups. Costcan also detract visitors from making a return visit. However, if HHC has tocharge, it may be feasible to charge up to 2.50 per adult and 1-1.50 perchild and 2 per pupil (to include a goody bag and resources) for school visits.It would be advisable to also consider a sliding scale of charges toaccommodate different types of activities.

k) StaffingTo fully implement an education and audience development programme, it willbe necessary to recruit dedicated staff, at the very least an Education andAudience Development Officer supported by in house or additionaladministrative support. This has revenue implications for the organisation.NACRE could also explore the possibility of developing a team of educationvolunteers to support school visits.


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3.11 Audience Development Plan

The ADP provides a comprehensive menu of potential projectsidentified underthe audience development objectives. These activities take into considerationrecommendations from the Access Plan and have been identified against amenu of options to indicate the level of engagement required.

3.12 Monitoring and Evaluation

Appropriate evaluation mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that anyfuture audience development work at the Hunsbury Hill Centre is fully evaluatedto inform good practice in the future and to monitor the impact of audiencedevelopment work.

3.13 The Full Audience Development Plan

This is the Executive Summary of the Audience Development Plan for theHunsbury Hill Centre. The full report and appendices include:

Full details of the methodology for the consultation Key findings from consultations

Recommendations

The Audience Development Action Plan


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4 Executive Summary of Access Plan

Full report and summary by Phil Chambers of CEM Ltd

4.1 The Context and Brief.

Northamptonshire ACRE was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund ProjectPlanning Grant, for the Hunsbury Hill Centre Restoration Project. This is aGrade 11 Listed model farm, (circa) 1770 comprising a large farmhouse, barns,animal sheds and 'hovels' set around an octagonal yard. Two large barns areavailable for community use and the farmhouse is used as offices.

This Access Plan is informed by an Access Audit, policy review andconsultation with local stakeholders. It should be read in conjunction with theConservation Plan and the Audience Development Plan. The aim is to identifythe barriers to access at the Hunsbury Hill Centre. The role of the consultant,CEM Ltd, was to assist NACRE in reviewing its policies, relevant legislation,consult with stakeholders, and identify barriers to access and to develop astrategy for improving access in the future.

4.2 Accessibility Context.

Disabled people and Black Minority Ethnic (BME) groups are under-representedin visiting heritage environments. They benefit from Inclusive Environmentswhich meet everyones needs whatever, their age, gender, ethnicity or level ofdisability. Despite a sloping site and man made barriers, much can still be doneto improve the accessibility and raise visitor numbers at the Hunsbury HillCentre. This includes consultation with stakeholders, improved physical access,

information, interpretation and transport planning.

4.3 Local Demographics.

The local demographics help to gauge prospective services against potentialdemand from disabled and BME communities. It is estimated that there aremore than thirty eight thousand disabled people living in Northampton. TheCouncil for Racial Equality identifies Northampton as a typical English town interms of its ethnic mix. Black Caribbean and Indian ethnic heritage groups arethe most populous of BME groups, with smaller numbers amongst Bangladeshi,Pakistani, Somalian Polish, Lithuanian and Irish people.

4.4 Key Legislation.The Race Relations Act makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone ongrounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or racial origin.Legislation affecting accessibility looks to providing reasonable access to theenvironment for disabled people. Relevant legislation includes the DisabilityDiscrimination Act (2005); Building Regulations Part M & BS 8300(2001) Codeof Practice Design of Buildings and their Approaches to meet the needs ofDisabled People and Public Planning Guidance (PPG) 15. (2001) - Planningand the Historic Environment.

4.5 Accessibility Principles.

Conservation of the environment, engineering needs, financial resources alleffect what reasonable adjustments are required to meet the law. It is not


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essential to make all places accessible to all disabled people all of the time.This is recognised as the Principle of Least Restrictive Access (PLRA). PPG15states that disabled people should have dignified access to and within historicbuildings. Where a conflict does arise between access and conservation at theHunsbury Hill Centre then conservation principles should on balance take

precedence.

4.6 Access Audit.

An access audit was carried out on the entire site and benchmarked against theCountryside for All Urban and Formal Standards with regard to the green-spaceand the Building Regulations and BS 8300 for the historic buildings.

4.7 Consultation with Disabled People.

Ability Northants, representing a cross section of needs amongst disabledpeople attended a site consultation visit. They felt that the opportunity toprovide access into the former animal sheds and hovels was a challenging yetvery worthwhile objective. There was also face to face and telephoneconsultation with local BME stakeholders. A visit was made to DOSTIYO whichis a community support and outreach project in Northampton primarily workingwith Asian Women.

4.8 Travelling to the Hunsbury Hill Centre.

A key barrier is that there is not a convenient bus stop for the Hunsbury HillCentre, the nearest being on Hunsbury Hill Road, approximately 360m away viafootways. Disabled people wishing to travel in their own vehicles are restrictedby a lack of blue badge parking. There is not convenient parking for

community hire vehicles either. On site pedestrian access is difficult asfootpaths often have gradients which are steeper than 1:12(8%) and there isvery little way-marking, signage or seating on the site. Steps should be taken toimprove these issues and staff should be trained to provide information abouttransport and accessibility at the Centre.

4.9 Results of Consultations.

The stakeholder feedback was very helpful in informing the Access Plan. Thekey issues identified were that the sloping site militates against easy access.Well designed footpaths with a minimum gradient of slopes are necessary tolink up the key buildings. Improved parking, handrails on steps, resting places,

better lighting and particularly clear signage would be beneficial. The possibilityof access into the Farmhouse, former animal sheds and hovels and thepossible internal lift in the High Barn was welcomed. Multimedia information andinterpretive services are required to complement improved physical accessaround the site.

The Hunsbury Hill Centre was described at DOSTIYO as a serene andpeaceful place that would be attractive to many people from ethniccommunities. The onsite kitchen was particularly useful to groups preferringtraditional ethnic dishes. It was not generally felt necessary to offer translationservices. Information in Clear and Plain English was preferred. The

Northampton Bengali Association was the only organisation consulted whopreferred to receive information about the Hunsbury Hill Centre in their


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members first language. The most important issues identified by the disabledpeoples group and people from BME communities was the need for clear anduncomplicated information and signage, both on the site and available before avisit takes place.

4.10 Equality and Diversity Sensitivity Training.Accessibility can also be improved through having well trained staff. It isrecommended that NACRE provides staff at the Hunsbury Hill Centre withEquality and Diversity Training to enable them to fully respond to the needs ofvisitors with a diverse range of needs. Disabled people and representatives ofBME organisations should be positively involved in the process.

4.11 Marketing and Promotion Strategy.

Social Exclusion is most likely to occur through indirect discrimination. This isparticularly true in the case of marketing and promotion, as often the needs ofexcluded groups are simply not met by generic promotional media. There aremany good opportunities for disabled people and people from BMEcommunities to enjoy and to learn about the Hunsbury Hill Centre. It isimportant that opportunities should be promoted effectively to them. It isrecommended that a Marketing Information System (MIS) database isestablished by NACRE to enable it to communicate directly with disabled andBME organisations. The Hunsbury Hill Centre should be promoted as aninclusive environment and in particular to people who are not presently visitinghistoric environments or who may feel that they are not for them. To meet thisneed the Hunsbury Hill Centre promotional media should be particularlytargeting disabled people, BME communities, older people, young people and

people on low incomes.

There is need to promote to a diverse market and promotional media shouldparticularly show positive images of people who are not normally represented athistoric and heritage places. To be socially inclusive NACRE should beenabling visitors to make an informed choice and to learn of opportunities thatmeet their particular needs. The Council for Ethnic Minority Communities(CEMC) said that they do not currently hold any promotional information aboutthe Hunsbury Hill Centre, so are unable to promote it to their members.

The use of multimedia communication tools are required to promote the

Hunsbury Hill Centre to underrepresented groups. This should includetraditional leaflets, website promotion and media provided in a mix of formats tomeet individual needs. However, the best form of communication is face to faceand through underrepresented groups themselves promoting the excellentservices that the Hunsbury Hill Centre aspires to.

4.12 Summary of the findings of the Access Audit.

The Access Audit identified a range of current barriers to access, which aresummarised below:

Access to the Farmhouse for prospective disabled employees;

Adapted Toilet Facilities; Accessible and Adapted Parking;


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Poor paths which pose trip hazards and are not uniform in the designconstruction;

Steps and level changes;

Slopes steeper than 1:12 without resting pads;

Paucity of Seating or Resting Places around the site;

Poor Signage and Waymarking; Poor lighting along paths and at places of interest;

Lack of Interpretive Services;

Disjointed access between the Upper Part of the Site Farmhouse, HighBarn and Low Barn - and the Lower Part of the Site, the former AnimalSheds and Hovels.

The lack of an accessibleexternal route around the perimeter of the Site

4.13 Access Audit Key Recommendations.

A wide number of recommendations have been made in connection with

overcoming the barriers to access. The general theme is to adopt the principlesof Universal Design. These are summarised below:

Access to the Farmhouse for people with mobility impairments includingwheelchair users

The creation of a network of footpaths around the Hunsbury Hill Centrelinking key places of interest and major buildings

The provision of blue badge accessible parking facilities

Clear signage and improved seating and lighting around the site

Internal lift access within the High Barn linking the meeting area and thebalcony

Improved access to Mrs Burmans Cottage and integrating footpathaccess with the High Barn and possibly the front entrance of theFarmhouse

Improved access to the former animal sheds and hovels, providing newaccess points and linking this area with the areas which are presentlywell used such as the High and Low Barns

Providing interpretive services to meet the needs of people with sensoryimpairments around the site and particularly the former animal sheds andhovels

Reviewing and extending safety services and facilities to meet the

needs of sight and hearing impaired visitors Create perimeter access linking the main site buildings; this may be for

pedestrian access, although vehicle access is recommended.


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5 List of Other Documents and Information available

Historic Report by Rod Conlon, Updated June 2007

Condition Survey of the Buildings, 2006

Maintenance Plan, June 2007

Building database Photographic archive index

Bat and Nesting Birds Survey Reports September 2006