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Scheme to extend protection for Leeds town’s history
CONSERVATION AREA: Dartmouth Park.
It began life as a small farming village, but by the height of the Industrial Revolution it had become one of Yorkshire’s economic powerhouses.
Things have changed again since then, of course, but experts say Morley’s unique history is one that deserves to be preserved.
Planners at Leeds City Council are drawing up proposals for a new enlarged conservation area, celebrating all that is great and good about the town’s special and characterful architecture.
Morley currently has two separate conservation areas: Morley Town Centre, which was designated in 1975 and covers the town centre from Morley Bottoms to Town End; and Morley Dartmouth Park, designated in 1974, covers the park and the nearby residential area.
The council aims to merge and extend these into a single Morley Conservation Area, reaching from St Peter’s Church in the north to Tingley Mills in the south.
To the east it would cover the residential and industrial areas as far the railway station and Lewisham Park, and to the west it would take in Morley Cemetery and developments along Bruntcliffe Road and Fountain Street. Conservation area designation protects historic areas from harmful change and encourages good design in new developments.
Buildings in a conservation areas are protected from unauthorised demolition, and new development has to be sympathetic to the historic setting. Trees in conservation areas are also protected.
Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for city development, said: “Morley has a very rich historical and cultural heritage. As a council we want to work alongside local people to protect that heritage. Conservation areas can be a really important part of that process.
“That’s why we want people to take a look at our proposals for the new conservation area and tell us what they think.”
An exhibition on the review can be seen at Morley Library until March 9. People have until then to comment on the planned changes. A public meeting will also be held at Morley Town Hall on Thursday, February 17 at 7pm.
It can also be seen at the council’s website: www.leeds.gov.uk/Environment_and_planning/Conservation/Conservation_area_appraisals.aspx
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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