OXFORD University Museum of Natural History has submitted a 12-page heritage impact assessment to justify major improvement plans – extending a single handrail by a metre.

Managers at the historic museum want to extend the handrail which runs up the steps in the entrance antechamber by about 10cm at its base and about 90cm at the top of the steps for the benefit of older and disabled visitors.

The extension would look identical to the current handrail but because of the museum’s historic nature, managers have had to go to great lengths to prove to Oxford City Council that their plans would not damage the character of the world-famous Victorian institution.

In their submission, they give a 500-word history of the museum dating back to its conception in 1847 and detailing the Italian Gothic influence of John Ruskin.

The building, they mention, was designated Grade I listed in 1954.

However the submission also laments that the design of the building limits its disabled access potential: “Accessibility of the building is hampered by its original design, the lack of consideration given to accessibility being typical of design in the period, but efforts have been made to adapt the building for disabled access.”

It goes on to say that the main objective of extending the handrail is to improve the access and safety in the antechamber.

Members of public can see the designs online at oxford.gov.uk using reference number 17/00410/LBC.

Oxford City Council is aiming to give the museum a decision by April 13.