Proposed Keighley Road Conservation Area

Benefits of a conservation area include:

They Can Enhance Property Values

Research suggests that property values for buildings in conservation areas can be up to 9% higher than for similar properties outside of the areas

Maintain and Improve the Aesthetic Value of an Area

The law requires higher standards of build design for development in Conservation Areas than outside of them. Development proposals must preserve or enhance the conservation area they are in.

Community Benefits

People living in conservation areas can benefit form a sense of pride and pace with the quality of the built environment being at the heart of that.

Additional Quality for New Developments

Conservation areas are not vehicles to prevent development. That is not their purpose. They do however require development to respect the history and architectural quality of an area. Designs are expected to reflect the history and architecture of the section of the Conservation Area they are situated in.

Drawbacks of a conservation area include:

Planning Controls

Households in England benefit form what are called permitted development rights under the T9own & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (“the GPDO”)

Within limitations households are allowed to erect sheds change windows etc the GPDO grants planning permission for many forms of householder development. These rights are slightly less in Conservation Areas. This is explained on a separate sheet.

Building Costs

Some costs can be higher to maintain your building. For example if you need a new roof you may be required to keep the type of existing materials instead of using cheaper more modern ones

Myths

• No one can develop in a conservation area:
  
  Conservation areas do not prevent development. They ensure however the quality of what is developed is of a higher than normal standard
   
• Modern Materials are banned:
  
  Modern materials are not banned. Materials need to be appropriate for their setting and the context in which the development is happening.
   
• “I cannot change my windows”|:
  
  Households have rights given by Central Government to change their doors and windows. A conservation area does not prevent that. A Council can however introduced what is known as “An Article 4 Direction”. If one is introduced automatic permission to replace doors or windows may be removed.
   
• The Conservation Lobby will use it to stop anything from ever being developed:
  
  The purpose of a conservation area is not to stop someone form peacefully enjoying their homes or recreating in their garden. A conservation area does place added weight to how these matters are dealt with an emphasis on having good design that is reflective of the area. That is a higher standard of design than for areas outside of a Conservation Area.

Development Allowed Automatically Inside and Outside of a Conservation Area

Please note that this not an exhaustive list.

We would like to know what you think about designating the area centred on Keighley Road as a conservation area.

If you would like to have your say, please complete the online questionnaire before 21 January 2026.

• Find out more about the proposed Keighley Road Conservation Area
• Building and Planning Control main page