Plans have been submitted for a £100,000 project to make Castle Rushen more accessible.

The work will involve the drawbridge being replaced, the visitor shop relocated and a new ramped area inside the castle keep, which will give easier access to the ground floor rooms.

Manx National Heritage said the proposed changes are in line with the aims of the Equality Act.

The shop will be relocated to a larger area in the next room to where it is currently housed with the area being glazed. The current drawbridge isn’t an ancient structure and has had components replaced over the years.

Manx National Heritage curator Allison Fox explained: ’It’s now time to replace it completely and we are taking the opportunity to ensure the new bridge will be fully compliant with latest building regulations, whilst proposing a design that is sensitive to the castle itself.

’We are also proposing a new ramped area inside the castle keep. The ground levels within the keep are uneven, as are the step heights and these are also quite high, so the new ramping will give easy access to the ground floor rooms.’

MNH said it had been planning the work at Castle Rushen for some time with a focus on improving access in line with its policy as well as being compatible with the broad aims of the Equality Act.

It is hoped that, if approved, the work can start during the closed season in November, and be completed by Easter 2018.

Allision said: ’Castle Rushen is of exceptional significance to the Isle of Man and further afield, and we are keen to enable as many people as possible to experience the building and its stories.

’Surveys of the needs of our audiences, and a conservation plan for the needs of the building were commissioned by MNH in 2012 and since then we have been working towards implementing some of the recommendations.

’The main driving force behind these plans is to make the ground floor of the castle fully accessible for all of our visitors.

’It is a challenge, as the castle was designed 800 years ago specifically to keep people out.

’As part of this project, we will be looking to refresh the interpretation in the main ground floor rooms, to tell the story of the castle and the people who have lived and worked there.

’It is an important investment in one of the most well-known and well-loved properties in the island. There is continuous maintenance of the building, but this project will have the biggest impact on the castle since the re-interpretation over 20 years ago.’

See the plans on the governent planning website (17/00857/GB and 17/00858/CON).