Timber Board and Aggregate Steps

Date published: 17 February, 2022

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

Aim

Good steps help people walk safely up steeper slopes, but they are an accessibility barrier to several types of users. Therefore, they should only be chosen in exceptional situations where the terrain and gradients naturally restrict access and not alternative path alignment option exists.

Eligibility

Any land is eligible. Steps are only eligible if used in conjunction with an existing path, the IPA “new path” or “upgraded path” capital items to be eligible.

Requirements

Vertical timber board risers, fixed in place with timber stakes or metal pins.
Height of risers no more than 150mm.
Step treads to be no less than 450mm deep.
Step treads back-filled with compacted Type 1 hard-core sub-base.
Step treads surfaced with compacted whin-dust, granite dust or equivalent.
Steps to be level and evenly spaced.
Width of steps to extend 150mm either side of path width.
Verges of steps to be landscaped using spoil and/or turf.
All timber to be treated.

Payment

You can claim £150 per linear metre.

Inspections

The inspectors will check:

The location and extent of the work as is detailed in the contract schedule of works and contract map.
That the capital item requirements have been met as detailed above.