Work on new policies or guidance to improve the “authenticity” and maintenance of conservation area houses could help keep up the value of homes in Ilkley.
Recent national English Heritage research conducted by the London School of Economics has conclusively shown the value of property in authentic and well-maintained official Conservation Areas is substantially more than equivalent property elsewhere.
The study of more than one million property transactions found properties in conservation areas sold for 23 per cent more on average than houses outside conservation areas.
The findings were discussed in a presentation by members of Ilkley Civic Society about Ilkley’s three conservation areas – the core of Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Middleton.
The society is assisting Bradford Council in its five-yearly survey of properties, particularly in the Ilkley conservation area, to measure authenticity from which it can be determined if new policies or guidance for owners are required to improve authenticity or maintenance.
Ilkley Civic Society is now moving on to the second stage of this work in the Ilkley conservation area by surveying green or open spaces, potential key unlisted buildings, changes in land use, historic highway materials and looking for positive and negative views.
It is inviting members to help with these surveys.
At a meeting attended by Civic Society members, parish councillors and members of Addingham Civic Society, chairman Helen Kidman said she would like consideration to be given to five features:
* extensions to conservation areas
* street furniture and signage
* planting of trees
* local listing
* more publicity on how to conserve original features of your home.
But Mrs Kidman acknowledged that staff resources at the Council to support such activities were limited.
Members of the society had found the survey fascinating and very interesting to undertake and it had added to the society’s knowledge and expertise in local history, she added.
The meeting also heard owners of properties in conservation areas should retain historic features, such as original sash windows, front doors, chimneys with the appropriate pots, and original wall materials.