Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

O N L I N E V E R S I O N M GENERAL GUIDANCE could be planned and carried out as a carried out as is necessary to ensure that: single project. • there is reasonable provision for people Material alterations of non-domestic to gain access to that part from the site buildings boundary and from on-site car parking where provided, either by means of an 0.9 Under regulation 4, where an independent access or by means of a alteration of a non-domestic building is route to and through the building; a material alteration, the work itself must comply, where relevant, with Requirement • that part itself complies with M1 (access M1. This means that alterations to features and use); and relevant to the compliance of a building • any sanitary conveniences provided in, with Part M, such as entrances or or in connection with, that part comply arrangements for people to get from with Requirement M1: if users of that part one level to another within the building, have the use of sanitary conveniences must result in features that comply with elsewhere in the building, there must Requirement M1. Where new features be reasonable provision for people to relevant to the compliance of a building gain access to and use that sanitary with Part M are provided, these must also accommodation, upgraded if need be. comply with Requirement M1. Reasonable Developers will need to agree how they provision must be made for people to gain have assessed what is reasonable access to and to use new or altered provision with the relevant building control sanitary conveniences. The building as a body as set out in paragraphs 0.20 to 0.25. whole, including access to it from the site boundary and from on-site car parking 0.12 Where a material change of use where provided, must be no less compliant results in a building being used in part as a with Requirement M1 following a material hotel or boarding house, institution, public alteration of a building. In the context of building or shop, and in part as a dwelling, a material alteration of a building, it is regard should be had to the guidance in not necessary, as regards the Building Sections 1 to 5 of this Approved Document Regulations, to upgrade access to the in relation to the relevant non-domestic building entrance from the site boundary accommodation and to the common parts and from on-site car parking where provided. (see also MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT However, attention is drawn to the note in under Use of Guidance). paragraph 1, above about the Equality Act. Car parking and setting down Material changes of use 0.13 Part M applies to those features, 0.10 Under regulation 6, as amended, outside the building, which are needed to where there is a material change of use of provide access to the building from the the whole of a building to a hotel or boarding edge of the site and from car parking and house, an institution, a public building or setting down points within the site. a shop, the building must be upgraded, What requirements apply if necessary, so as to comply with M1 (Access and use). The terms ‘institution’, 0.14 If Part M applies, reasonable provision ‘public building’ and ‘shop’ are explained should be made: in regulation 2. In particular, it should be a. so that people, regardless of disability, noted that ‘shop’ includes use as a age or gender, can reach the principal restaurant, bar or public house. entrance to the building and other 0.11 Under regulation 6, as amended, if entrances described in this Approved an existing building undergoes a change Document from the site boundary, of use such that part is used as a hotel or boarding house, an institution, a public building or a shop, such work if any shall be Access to and use of buildings other than dwellings Approved Document M Volume 2 12 O N L I N E V E R S I O N