Historic Almshouses: A Guide to Managing Change

This advice note from Historic England suggests how the heritage significance of almshouses can be conserved as proposals for upgrading are developed.

As times change and the need for affordable accommodation is widely felt, provision of appropriately accessible and comfortable homes with contemporary standards of accommodation, allowing residents to remain independent in their homes for as long as possible, is essential. Almshouses derive a distinctive form from their use in providing communal housing, which has continued for centuries. This advice note suggests how significance can be retained while supplying more comfortable and appropriate housing.

The document also includes a link to six case studies illustrating good practice in developing proposals for development works affecting listed almshouses.