Councillors support planned Eccleshill Conservation Area

Residents and businesses in Eccleshill had recently been consulted on plans for a Conservation Area following a petition signed by 170 locals.

The Conservation Area would include the area around the Recreation Ground, including Moorwell Place, parts of Stone Hall Road, Moorside Road and Stony Lane as well as Tunwell Lane. 

Last week, members of Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee backed calls for the new Conservation Area, and it is expected to be rubber stamped by Council bosses in the coming weeks.

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

A report into the plans presented to members said: “These areas are generally considered to be the oldest parts of the village and have the most consistent historic character.

“This area includes a variety of buildings, including former farmhouses and cottages which are good examples of past local building techniques and materials as well as later Victorian and Edwardian buildings which provide a record of a time of increased prosperity, industrial development and population growth.

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

“There are a number of listed buildings, such as the Mechanics Institute, however there are also many unlisted buildings which contribute to the character of the area and its sense of place.”

Conservation officer Jon Ackroyd told members that the boundaries of the area were originally much wider, but this would have meant poor quality, more modern buildings being included.

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

He said: “There are some areas of Eccleshill that had do distinctive character, or even a negative character. Including these areas would have detracted from the cohesion of the Conservation Area.”

He was asked how people and businesses in this area would be encouraged to maintain the character of their properties.

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

Mr Ackroyd replied: “That is the question we face with a lot of Conservation Areas.

“Current permitted development rules do allow people to change their windows, roof materials, doors, all of which can affect the character.”

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

He said measures could be taken to remove permitted development rights – which allow people to make minor changes to their homes without planning permission – but this would require support from business and residents. He added: “It is unlikely we’d gain that level of support.”

Councillor Shakeela Lal (Lab, City) pointed out the Conservation Area status could impact what businesses did with signage and their shop frontages.

Eccleshill (Image: T&A)

She added: “Have businesses been consulted on this area and impact it could have on them?”

Mr Ackroyd said there had been a full public consultation, but added: “We didn’t get a lot of responses from business owners. We’d work with commercial property owners to make sure any buildings were altered in a sympathetic way.”

The committee voted for the proposals to move to the Council’s decision-making executive – who will decide whether to approve the Conservation Area.