Developer told to rethink car park ‘alternative’ setts

HERITAGE officers have criticised a development in a conservation area after artificial materials were used for a parking area instead of stone setts.

In 2016 Bradford Council granted permission for the conversion of Ghyll Court on Wells Walk, Ilkley, from a nursing home to three homes.

One condition was that a parking area in front of the 19th century building, in Ilkley Conservation Area, be laid with stone setts.

Last year Jane Verfuerth submitted an application calling for that condition to be lifted, saying an “alternative sett” was laid during construction owing to the high cost of stone setts. But Bradford Council has now refused to drop this condition.

Heritage officer Jon Ackroyd said: “The paving does not match and results in a loss of character to the conservation area with no balancing benefit.”

Ilkley Civic Society had also objected to the plans. Refusing the application, planning officers said the block paving was “harmful to visual amenity”.