BRAMHOPEVillage Design Statement

Bramhope is a village of some 4,500 inhabitants, about700 of whom are under 18 years of age. There areabout 1,600 dwellings in the village, most of which arerated for council tax purposes within the D to G priceband. There are roughly 900 detached properties(about 55% of the housing stock), 450 semi-detachedproperties (about 28%), 200 town houses or cottage-type dwellings (about 12.5%) and 65 flats (about 4%).About 200 of these properties are bungalows.

Bramhope is mentioned in the Domesday Book.Buildings in the older parts of the village date from the17th century and are of a plain stone-built construction.

Although the village has expanded rapidly since 1930, itretains its rural character.

Bramhope is situated on the A660 between Leeds andOtley in West Yorkshire; Bradford and Harrogate arenearby, and York is within easy travelling distance. It issurrounded by Green Belt land, and The Yorkshire DalesNational Park is on the doorstep. The village isconveniently placed for travel to most parts of thecountry as the M1, A1 and M62 are soon reached; theLeeds Bradford International Airport is just 2 milesaway.

Name and address of principal contact person:Dr Philip Sunderland, c/o The Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council

Date of Adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance: October 2001

Proposed review date: 2006

Bramhope

Bramhope Village Design Statement

Contents pageSummary of Main Planning Recommendations 2

1. Introduction 3

2. History of Bramhope and Settlement Pattern 4

Historical Maps 6Recommendations 8

3. Landscape Setting 9

Map 10Planning Guidelines 12Recommendations 13

4. Characteristics of Residential Areas 14

Map 20Planning Guidelines 22Recommendations 23

5. Permitted Development Rights and Small Extensions 24

Recommendations 24

6. Noteworthy Buildings and Landmarks 25

Map 26Planning Guidelines 28Recommendations 29Schedule of ‘Listed’ Buildings 29Buildings that Might be Considered for ‘Listed’ Status 29

7. Open Spaces 30

Design Guidelines 31Recommendations 31

8. Footpaths and Bridleways 32

Recommendations 32

9. Highways and Transport 33

Recommendations 35

10. Economic and Social Environment 36

Recommendations 39

11. The Future for Bramhope 40

Acknowledgements 41

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Planning Status

Leeds City Council welcomes this initiative and supports theaims of Village Design Statements, as an expression of theaspirations of local people in guiding new development andthe valued characteristics of their local environment.

The Bramhope VDS should be regarded as SupplementaryPlanning Guidance to the adopted Leeds UnitaryDevelopment Plan (UDP). The recommendations of the VDSshould be read in conjunction with the relevant UDP policies,and reference numbers of these have been listed in thehighlighted text boxes.

For a full list of Supplementary Planning Guidance or to lookat a copy of the UDP, visit

The Planning Enquiry Centre6th floor of Merrion House,110 Merrion Centre,Leeds LS2 8SH(opening hours: Mon to Thurs 9am - 5pm, Fri 9am - 4.30pm),Tel. (0113) 247 8000or visit the Planning Department’s internet websitewww.leeds.gov.uk/planning.

Bramhope’s Landscape Setting

The following landscape features must be retained andprotected: the Green Belt which is an important bufferseparating Bramhope from Leeds and helps the village retainits rural character; the stone walls, hedges, woodland andtrees which give the surrounding countryside its uniqueappearance; the open aspects enjoyed from the village to thenorth and across Breary Marsh, which are much appreciated;and Golden Acre Park, Chevin Forest Park and the opencountryside with its many footpaths, providing recreationalopportunities for many people.

Recommendations: 3.1-3.4, 4.3, 4.20, 7.1, 9.1, 9.2, 10.3UDP SA1, N1, N32, N33, N34, SP2, N37A, N42

The interface between the village and the surroundingcountryside is particularly sensitive to change. Developmentsshould try to soften the transition by landscaping andappropriate choice of building height, materials and density.The presence of Greenspace (public open space) at theinterface helps to make the transition acceptable.

Recommendations: 3.5, 4.14UDP SA1, LD1, N1, N2, N23, N24

The conversion of farmhouses within the Green Belt shouldretain the existing buildings; extensions should match the styleof existing and nearby properties.

Recommendations: 3.6, 3.7UDP N12, N13, N36, N37A,Appendix A5

Bramhope’s Residential Area

Housing developments should complement and integrate withadjacent areas in the village, in terms of the characteristics oflow-density housing, gardens, trees, public open spaces, and grassverges and footways beside the roads. There are currently nodevelopments over 21⁄2 storeys except for the Holiday Inn.

Recommendations: 4.5, 4.9, 4.16, 4.17, 7.2-7.5, 10.2UDP N9, N12, N13, N23, N24, N25,Appendix A3

Greenspace is well used for leisure and sporting activities andshould be retained. Private open space in the village is valuedby the residents. Public footpaths and bridleways need to beretained and kept in good condition; some expansion to theexisting network would be desirable.

Recommendations: 7.2-7.5, 8.1, 8.4, 10.9, 10.10UDP N1, N2, N5, N6, N9, N10, N23, N25, SPG No.4

The loss of shops through conversion into dwelling houseswould be undesirable because of the consequent reduction inthe range of services available in the village. Where change of useof a dwelling house is proposed to allow commercial activities totake place, there should be no material change to the appearanceof a property and no nuisance caused to neighbours.

Recommendations: 4.18, 4.19, 10.4, 10.5

Residents carrying out ‘permitted developments’ shouldenquire about current regulations from the City of LeedsPlanning Authority, or consult an experienced professional.Extensions should blend in with the existing property and itsneighbours. An extension design guide is available from theDepartment of Planning and Environment.

Recommendation: 5.1UDP N25

Planning permission for infill should only be granted if the newproperty is sympathetic to other houses in the character area.Enforcement of any conditions imposed must be carried out.

Recommendations: 4.1, 4.2, 4.5-4.9, 4.11, 4.12UDP N12, N13

Small-scale developments on open land in the village areundesirable but if permitted they should fall within therecommended guidelines. Development on ‘brown field’ siteswithin existing residential boundaries is acceptable. Developmentsinvolving the demolition of serviceable housing for replacement byhigh-density developments are likely to be inappropriate.

Recommendations: 4.1-4.9, 4.12-4.16

Large-scale developments are unwelcome to most ofBramhope’s residents, but if they are to take place they shouldintegrate with and complement adjoining areas. Existingfeatures like woodland, ponds and footpaths should be retainedand extended to provide landscape transition zones aroundnew development adjacent to open land. Significant increases inthe village’s population with present levels of public transportwould lead to undesirable road traffic congestion.

Recommendations: 4.1-4.8, 4.12, 4.14-4.17, 9.15-9.17UDP N34, N37A, N39, N41B, N51, N59, SA2,T2,T9

Summary of Main Planning Recommendations

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This Village Design Statement (VDS) represents theviews of the residents of Bramhope, and makesrecommendations for the local planning authority,builders and developers to act on when consideringproposals for new housing and other developments inand around the village. It describes the qualities andcharacteristics of the village appreciated and mostvalued by residents.

Local Involvement

Local people have a special and unique knowledge andappreciation of local character and distinctiveness. TheVDS has provided an opportunity for everyone in thevillage to play a part in the debate and make a positivecontribution to the design process. A variety of wayshas been used to ensure the widest possibleconsultation, including the following:

• A Public Meeting was held in the Robert CravenMemorial Hall to launch the initiative. A group ofresidents drawn from a wide cross-section of thecommunity was invited to help progress the work ofpreparing the VDS for Bramhope. A constitutionwas drawn up and arrangements made for the groupto have its own bank account.

• A Questionnaire was devised, which included asection just for young people, and copies of theQuestionnaire were delivered to each of the 1600households in the village. Over 500 Questionnaireswere returned, including responses from about 50young people, a measure of the interest andconcern for the future of the village felt by itsresidents.

• A series of Public Exhibitions was held at severalvenues in May 1999 to explain what the VDSexpected to achieve and to invite comment.Completed Questionnaires were collected at theExhibitions, local shops and elsewhere.

• Residents were kept informed of the progress ofthe VDS preparation via the Parish CouncilNewsletter and the local press. The Bramhopeand Carlton Parish Council, The Yorkshire Rural

Community Council, and the Leeds City CouncilDepartment of Planning and Environment were alsoapprised of developments and asked for theircomments.

• When the Questionnaires had been evaluated, asuccession of draft documents was prepared untilthe stage was reached at which the VDS group feltthat it was ready to make a detailed draft availablefor public comment at another widely-advertisedPublic Exhibition held in the Robert CravenMemorial Hall on 29th April 2000.

• The VDS Group is aware of the UnitaryDevelopment Plan (UDP) for Leeds, adopted inAugust 2001, which contains somerecommendations that conflict with the views ofresidents as expressed in this VDS document.

The final version of the VDS document was thenprepared and submitted to the Bramhope and CarltonParish Council for its endorsement, and then to LeedsCity Council. Council officers consulted the chair ofthe West Plans Development Control Panel, CIT andWard Councillors, representative professional bodiesand government agencies on the draft text. This wasthen approved without further amendment by theDirector of the Planning and Environment Departmentas Supplementary Planning Guidance under delegatedpowers in the Autumn of 2001.

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1. Introduction

Public Exhibition May 1999

The earliest known settlement in the area was a Britishcamp established off Moor Road. The Romans alsooccupied this part of the country but bypassedBramhope with their road from Adel to Ilkley, traces ofwhich may still be seen in a field near Leeds BradfordAirport.

Bramhope is mentioned in the Domesday Book whenthe Saxon thane Uchill had a great manor here. In 1095this passed into the hands of the famous Percy family,and in 1165 was sold to Ralph de Bramhope. In the 13th

century the monasteries owned much of the land andhad granges where sheep were grazed. The monksused tracks, such as Scotland Lane and Staircase Lane,as they travelled from their outlying granges to KirkstallAbbey. At the dissolution of the monasteries Henry VIIIgave the land to the Earl of Cumberland.

In the 16th century the Dyneley family moved into thearea and acquired Bramhope Hall, replaced in 1971 bythe Post House Hotel (now Holiday Inn). In 1649 theybuilt the Puritan Chapel, which was taken over by theChurch of England after the Restoration.

The chapel is one of only a few built during theCommonwealth period. It is said not to have beenconsecrated but nevertheless was in regular use forchurch services until 1881-82. When it proved toosmall for the growing population, St Giles’ Church wasbuilt in 1881. The original Methodist chapel was built in1837 and replaced by the much bigger church in 1896.

Bramhope Manor was built in the 16th century but wasrebuilt in 1803. The Lawson family lived at the Manorbetween 1876 and 1897. They were responsible forerecting The Cross at the top of Church Hill in around1876. It replaced the ‘Old Elm’ of the Ancient Order ofForesters. Mr Lawson supplied the first lighting on it

and the Woodhouse family l it it for the 1936Coronation. Thereafter it became the responsibility ofthe Parish Council.

Other old buildings include The Croft, parts of whichdate back to about 1600, the Old Manor Farm thatgoes back to 1691, and the ‘Old Vicarage’ that is of asimilar age.

Bramhope’s layout is best understood in terms of thesystem of lanes that existed before the opening of theLeeds to Otley turnpike road in 1842. This routedtravellers through the outskirts of Bramhope and it isalong this road that motorists today travel betweenLeeds and the northwest. The milestones along theroad were erected in 1850.

At the old core of the village is a group of buildingsdating from the 17th and 18th centuries, notably theFox and Hounds public house,The Smithy and WeaversCottage. The Smithy served the village from 1687, andits stone hearth and flue can still be seen in the southwall. In 1870 an iron weigh-bridge was installedbetween The Smithy and the adjoining building andcontinued in use until 1939 to weigh loads of hay, stockand shire horses. This group of buildings lies at theintersection of the relatively important old road fromCookridge to Pool with the local lane running fromOtley and Carlton towards Breary. They are typicalYorkshire millstone grit buildings, with littleornamentation, and have stone or slate roofs.

Other small groups of old buildings are to be foundalong the lane (now Breary Lane East) leading to WestBreary, particularly at its intersection with CreskeldLane and opposite the duck pond, and in Old Bramhopeat the junction of Old Lane with Occupation Lane.

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2. History of Bramhope & Settlement Pattern

The Puritan Chapel, built in 1649

The Smithy, dating from 1687

Another old group was centred on the mill at thelowest point of what is now Hall Drive. Otherwise, theolder buildings were widelyscattered throughout the area,some originally built for the farmingcommunity and others built ascountry residences for Leedstradesmen in the 19th century.

The first recorded village schoolwas built in Eastgate where the warmemorial gardens are now located.A plaque on the wall states, “On thissite in 1790 a Day School was erectedby the freeholders and copyholders ofBramhope Township. It was also usedas a Sunday School and Publ icMeeting Place. Demolished 1961”.The school became seriouslyovercrowded when the 30 localpupils were joined by 90 workers’children whilst tunnelling work forthe Leeds to Thirsk railway wasgoing on in the late 1840’s. It wasreplaced by a larger building in 1873in Breary Lane, next to what is nowthe shopping parade. The presentschool, situated on TredgoldCrescent, was opened in 1961.

Water used to come from private wells or from theTown Well at the foot of Northgate (now Church Hill).The Town Well was restored in 1991 by a group ofBramhope residents, and is to be found opposite StGiles’ Church.

The railway came to Bramhope, or rather underBramhope, with the tunnel constructed between 1845and 1849. The tunnel is still evidenced by the elaboratecastellated northern entrance, many heaps of spoil andseveral ventilation shafts. There is a replica of thetunnel entrance in Otley churchyard, which was erectedas a memorial to those who lost their lives during thetunnel’s construction.

Bramhope was originally a scattered agriculturalcommunity, having only a small population until the 20th

century. The Black Death of 1348-9 reduced thenumber of adults to 34, but this gradually increased toabout 400 in 1900; now it is in the region of 4,500.

The construction of the Leeds to Otley turnpike roadhad surprisingly l ittle effect on Bramhope’sdevelopment. There are comparatively few lateVictorian buildings here with the notable exception ofthe two churches and the Robert Craven MemorialHall. At the beginning of the 20th century, Bramhoperemained essentially a farming community with widelyscattered buildings centred on Eastgate, Church Hill,Old Lane and Moorland Road.

The 20th century saw a considerable amount of newbuilding in Bramhope, with housingdevelopments in a variety of styles.This started in the 1930s withrather indiscriminate building onagricultural land before planningregulations became effective; thisincluded the ‘Trees’ developmentbordering Breary Marsh at thesouth eastern edge of the villageand originally well apart from it, andtwo small separate groups ofcouncil houses, in Moorland Roadand Breary Rise, and the CreskeldEstate down the hillside from theA660. In addition, there was some‘ribbon development’ along theA660 road, on either side of BrearyLane, and up Kings Road.

The gaps between the originallyseparate developments have beenfilled progressively in the secondhalf of the 20th century, bydevelopments in the Wynmores andTredgolds, and then more recentlyin Parklands and Long Meadows,linking the ‘Trees’ area with the

village centre. The late 1970s saw a major developmentof detached houses on the hillside linking the Creskeldsto the village centre, and further infilling in Churchgateand Manor Close.

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The Town Well, opposite St Giles' Church

Manor Close, a successful infill development

Bramhope Tunnel,Northern Entrance

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Historical Maps Of Bramhope

1820

1847-8

7

1906

1938

Although the majority of the houses built in the earlierpart of the 20th century were of a style that could befound anywhere in England, many of the post 1940shouses have maintained affinity with the region’straditional character. While newer buildings haveintroduced a suburban character to the rural setting,the fairly large plots and absence of high-risedevelopments have allowed the distant vistas to survive.

The most recent building has been ‘in-fill ing’ orreplacement of redundant premises, notably the twoformer garages, the conversion of the former school inBreary Lane and the Hilton Grange development.These buildings and the estates at the southeast of thevillage have included a number of bungalows and flatssuitable for younger and retired people.

Most of the old dry-stone walls have been retained,often associated with grass verges, so helping tomaintain the rural character of the village, although anumber of more formal boundary walls and fences arenow replacing them. Street lighting has been installed insome parts of Bramhope; while appreciated by many ongrounds of safety, it has nevertheless detracted fromthe rural appearance of the neighbourhood.

There is virtually no industry in the immediate vicinityof the village apart from agriculture and the twoquarries. However, there is significant industrial activity,within the parish boundary, in factories and warehousesnear to the Airport, but it has little effect on the village

of Bramhope. The World War 2 airfield at Yeadon, justoutside the parish boundary, became the LeedsBradford Airport, now used for domestic andinternational flights.

At present there are some sixteen small shops in thevillage, split between several sites. These shops mainlydate from the 1930s, but the parade of shops on BrearyLane was built in the 1960s. The public house and hotelin the village are supplemented by others in theneighbourhood, so providing for both residents andvisitors.

Bramhope, a former rural village dominated by farming,has changed very much over the years, with manyresidents now commuting out of the village to workand others seeking a pleasant environment for theirretirement.

Despite the rather haphazard way in which the villagehas assumed its present form, it clearly forms a distinctcommunity. Aerial photographs (see cover) and theview from the vantage point at the top of Kings Roadreveal a settlement surrounded by open country, largelystill in agricultural use as grazing land. The village ischaracterised by an unregimented arrangement ofstreets, low-density housing and an abundance of mainlydeciduous trees. These aspects, which are thecounterpart of the distant views of countryside seenfrom within the village, form the essential feature of itscharacter that must be preserved.

RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1 National Planning Policy Guidance “General Policy andPrinciples” (PPG No.1) notes that it is proper to seek topromote or reinforce local distinctiveness, particularlywhere this is supported by clear plan policies orsupplementary design guidance. Applicants forplanning permission should be able to demonstratehow they have taken account of the need for gooddesign in their development proposals and that theyhave had regard to the UDP pol ic ies and theBramhope VDS guidance, for example in any designstatements submitted in support of an application andin the proposals themselves.

Every effort must be made to preserve and enhancethe character of the village in the future. This will beassisted by the treatment of the VDS as a materialconsideration of development proposals in the planningprocess, with the views of residents and their electedrepresentatives being given due prominence.

“A History of the Township of Bramhope” by W.F. Seals was themain source of the historical material in this section.

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Breary Court, site of former garage

The shops on Tredgold Avenue date from the 1930s andcomplement neighbouring houses in style

The village of Bramhope was developed along the highridge, running roughly east west, separating the Aire andWharfe valleys. This situation has given rise to thefeature of the village that residents are most anxious topreserve, the views of open countryside.

It is possible to identify two different landscape typesaround Bramhope, the ridge and escarpment land thatfalls steeply to the Wharfe Valley lying to the north ofthe village and the plateau land which accounts formuch of the rest of the land around the village.

3.1 The Ridge and Escarpment Land*

This north facing land with its grassland and stands ofdeciduous trees is designated in the Leeds UDP as aSpecial Landscape Area (SLA).

Sheep or cattle graze the small fields of grassland thatare bounded either by well-defined dry-stone walls orthorn hedgerows, often with mature trees in them.Some hedges date from the Enclosure Act and othersare even older.

The views to the north*, from the A660 between thetop of Staircase Lane and the Dyneley Arms crossroads,across Wharfedale and up the Washburn valley arebreathtaking.

The elegant curving railway viaduct punctuates theWharfe valley;Almscliffe Crag on the further side of thevalley forms a backdrop, and on a fine day, theescarpment of the North York Moors is visible in thedistance.

The obtrusive communications mast on top ofNorwood Edge mars the view. Arthington Quarry is ascar on the landscape too and, although attempts havebeen made to screen it with tree planting, it can be stillbe seen from some parts of the village.

3.2 The Plateau Land*

This land can be broken down into five areas, eachhaving its own distinctive features.

i) The rising land to the north of Kings Road, aroundBreary Grange Farm is characterised by smallfields of grassland bounded by dry-stone walls.There is some woodland, notably Spring Wood, asmall copse of deciduous trees. It is in this areathat the UDP is recommending that a large parcelof land should be taken out of the Green Belt andredesignated as Protected Area of Search (PAS). §

The panoramic views of the vil lage fromArthington Lane and the top of Kings Road arepleasing and important too because they show thespacious green nature of the village to good effect.

Black Hill Quarry, at the top of Kings Road, isbeing screened by trees and in any event is notvisible from the village.

* and § see page 13

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3. Landscape Setting*

View of Wharfedale, towards the Washburn Valley

Bramhope from Kings Road

Wharfedale and Almscliffe Crag from Bramhope

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ii) The ground between the A660 and Kings Roadcomprises marshy grassland with a scattering ofgorse bushes in the lower lying parts adjacent tothe A660. As it rises to the quarry in Kings Roadand Golden Acre Park it changes to heath landcomprising coarse grass, and trees, particularlywithin the boundary of the Park.

iii) The flat land between the A660 and the line of theBramhope Tunnel contains Breary Marsh, a Site ofSpecial Scientif ic Interest (SSSI), and ischaracterised by small fields bounded by hedges.There are several small areas of deciduouswoodland, notably, Bog, Camp and MarshesPlantations. There are important views of thevillage across the fields from Cookridge eventhough these are partially obscured in summer bythe leafy woodland.

iv) The rising land from the line of the BramhopeTunnel to Old Lane and Hilton Grange ischaracterised by small fields of grass enclosed inthe main by dry-stone walls; there are few trees inthis area.

v) The small area of land that lies between Old Laneand the edge of the ridge to the north overlookingWharfedale has similar features to the land dealtwith under (iii) except that the fields are boundedmainly by hedgerows with just a few dry-stonewalls.

The views to the south of the village are across a gentlysloping landscape leading to the Aire valley. It is alargely rural but partly industrial landscape, with theLeeds Bradford Airport and adjacent warehouses andindustrial estates prominent in the middle distance.

PLANNING GUIDELINES

Golden Acre Park and the Breary Marsh area act asimportant buffers separating Bramhope from Adel andCookridge. These amenities should be retained and couldeven be extended to incorporate some of the adjacentquarry as part of its restoration.

The ‘Green Belt’ surrounding Bramhope with grazing landand stands of deciduous woodland is extremely important inmaintaining the rural character of the village and must beprotected at all costs. We note that under policy N34 of theLeeds UDP, there is a proposal that land between BrearyLane East and the A660 should be taken out of the GreenBelt and re-designated as a PAS.§ Any future developmentof the PAS land would have to be assessed on the overallneed for additional housing within the Leeds district andwithin the context of the latest Planning Policy Guidance onHousing (PPG3 – March 2000) which carries in it apresumption against greenfield development, whilst thereare brownfield sites available within the district.

The ‘Control of Development in the Green Belt’ is covered bythe Leeds UDP (Volume 2 - Appendix 5 Policies GB1-GB26and Proposed Modifications). It is against these policies thatdevelopment in the countryside will in practice be judged.

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Breary Marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Golden Acre Park

Sharp interface between Green Belt land and new properties

RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 The ‘Green Belt’ must be protected against erosion, byenforcement of planning regulations to preventunauthorised development in the open countryside andthe loss of long distance views.

UDP N1, N32, N33, GP6

3.2 Golden Acre Park and Chevin Forest Park (on thewestern edge of the village) must be preserved asimportant recreational areas. The former houses anumber of important horticultural collections.

UDP LT3, N41

3.3 Dry-stone walls, hedges and hedgerow trees should beretained because they are the traditional materials forfield enclosure in this area and give the countryside itscharacteristic appearance. It is desirable that theyshould be extended in new field divisions or farm sub-divisions and conversions, as part of the enhancementof farmland under ‘whole farms plans’ and agriculturalstewardship schemes. Hedgerows should be protected,and current legislation should be strengthened toachieve this.

UDP N37A

3.4 All remaining woodland in the open countryside shouldbe retained because it provides a haven for wild lifeand adds to the quality of the long distance viewsenjoyed from the village.

UDP N41

3.5 Developments at the interface between built-up areasand the open countryside should be required to softenthe transition by landscaping and appropriate choice ofbuilding height, materials and density of housing.

UDP N24, N41B

3.6 All agricultural developments, including alterations to andconversions of farm buildings, in the Green Belt must notintrude on the landscape and must conform to PoliciesGB4-GB10 of the Leeds UDP, ‘Control of Development inthe Green Belt’ (Volume 2 - Appendix 5).

3.7 The growth in the number of makeshift structures,often associated with farms or stables, is typical of thesort of development that should be resisted whereverpossible.UDP N36, N37A

3.8 The siting and design/construction of communicationequipment should be assessed against their visualintrusion and avoid sensitive locations. It is highlydesirable that masts should be subject to much stricterplanning controls. The law needs to be altered to allowsuch control.UDP BD13

3.9 There should be no more camping or caravan sites inthe area because they inevitably intrude into theappearance of the countryside surrounding Bramhope.The part of the Leeds UDP dealing with the Control ofDevelopment in the Green Belt addresses the issue inVolume 2 – Appendix 5.

3.10 The number and frequency of Car Boot Sales in thearea should be kept to the absolute minimum allowedby the law.

* Please refer to the Landscape Setting map on pages10 and 11 which identifies the two different types oflandscape found around Bramhope.

§ The Plan states that ‘To ensure this necessary longterm endurance of the Green Belt, it is necessary toidentify now land which may be required for longerterm development needs. Whilst this land is not nowconsidered appropriate for inclusion in the Green Belt,it is not considered that it should be developed duringthe Plan period (to 2006). It must be made absolutelyclear that there is no automatic assumption that thisland will be developed - its suitability for allocation fordevelopment will be considered on review of the UDP.Until such a review it is intended that no developmentshould be permitted on this land which would prejudicethe possibility of longer term development.’

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The impression visitors get of Bramhope is one of avillage of substantial well-built brick and stone houses,separated from one another by spacious well-tendedgardens, with grassy areas and mature trees (many thesubject of Tree Preservation Orders), the wholesurrounded by open countryside. The village hasregularly featured among the winners of the Britain andYorkshire in Bloom competitions.

As the village has grown to its present size, housingdevelopments and changes to existing buildings in thevillage have taken place and each has affected theappearance of the village for better or worse. Theprocess has been one of continuous evolution; aprocess that has accelerated during the second half ofthe last century. In-fill has also taken place, not alwaysdone as sensitively as it might have been.

The house style, therefore, depends very much on theperiod in which the house was built, there being no onestyle of house typical of Bramhope. However, it ispossible to identify different areas, each with its owncharacter and style of house. Inevitably, there are someplaces where an overlap of styles occurs, but it wouldseem to be appropriate to divide the village intospecific areas for the purposes of this section.

The Historical Core of Bramhope

This area includes Church Hill, Eastgate and theneighbourhood of The Cross, and contains many of theoldest buildings in Bramhope, with a variety of houses

and small terrace-style cottages.

Many of thecottages originallyhad thatchedroofs, some withdormer windowsat eaves level tocreate one and ahalf storeys andsome withdormers placedhigher up the roofslope. Improved

roofing techniques led to thin stone slab roof coveringsand slate being used some time later.

A typical example of early 18th century cottageconstruction is the listed Weavers Cottage in Eastgate.

Other cottages, which are un-listed, on the oppositeside of Eastgate have had their appearance marred byill-proportioned modern windows.

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4. Characteristics of Residential Areas

Church Hill from The Cross

Weavers Cottage

Eastgate from The Cross

An old farmhouse and large villas on Church Hill haveimposing doorways and large sash windows. The use ofslate for roof coverings with under-eaves decorationand corbels for supporting rainwater gutters becamethe norm for villas of this sort in the mid 19th century.

The Smithy is one of the oldest and least-alteredbuildings in Bramhope. The front of the building datesfrom the late 17th century, but extensions to the rearhave been added at later dates. The building has half-dressed stone courses, mullioned windows, crutch-typeroof beams and an easy stone staircase.

In-fill development in this part of the village must becarried out with very great care if the character of thearea is to be maintained. This has been achieved, forexample, with the conversion of the old school site inBreary Lane.

The Old Forge Mews development near The Cross, on thesite of a former garage, has been less successful mainlybecause the houses are set too high above Moor Road.

The Historical Core

Materials: Coursed rubble stone walls, stone or slate roofs.Windows: Stone mullions in oldest buildings, sash windowsin later buildings and extensions.Doors:Wooden.Gardens: Eastgate houses set directly against footway,Church Hill houses have small front gardens with formalstone walls.Roadway: Footway without verges, street lights on concreteposts.

Breary Lane and Leeds Road

Properties along these roads have been built mainly inseparate plots and at widely different times. They aremostly of individual design with enclosed front gardens.Breary Lane, leading up from Leeds Road to Eastgate, isthe principal approach to the centre of the village forpeople coming from Leeds and has an important partto play in defining the character of the village.

At the top end of Breary Lane the properties aremainly well proportioned two storey stone-builthouses, some with attics, mostly Victorian, although afew are older. Further down the Lane towards Leeds,the older houses are widely-spaced and there has beensignificant in-filling in recent years with a number ofsubstantial individually designed houses, mainly withstone facings, retaining the large gardens typical of thearea. The conversion of the former school has beendone sympathetically.

Breary Court retains the stone facing characteristic of thevillage, but its height dominates the buildings on LeedsRoad. The ugly 1960’s parade of shops (see page 36) isquite out of keeping with its surroundings. Breary Rise isa group of former Council houses of uniform design.

Leeds Road has a generally similar mix, although oldbuildings are few and some houses are entirely brick-faced. Here, the shops are in the same style as theneighbouring houses.

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Old Manor Farmhouse, Church Hill

Breary Lane, older houses

Low Croft Court, conversion of old village school

Old Forge Mews, former garage site

Breary Lane and Leeds Road

Older propertiesMaterials: Coursed rubble stone walls, slate roofs.Height: Various according to age - oldest houses low with 2storeys,Victorian ones higher, some with attics.Windows: Mainly sash windows in Victorian period, stone-mullioned casement in earlier.Doors:Wooden, often with fanlights.Gardens: Front gardens have stone walls, mainly dry-stone,many surmounted with hedges.Roadway: Footway without verges, street lights on concreteposts.

InfillingMaterials: Various – the most recent have natural stonewalls and slate or grey concrete roof tiles; the mid-20th

century houses mostly are partly stone- or brick-faced, withrendered upper parts, some with gables.Height: Mainly 2-storey, none higher, a few bungalows.Windows: Generally casement in wood or uPVC.Doors: Wooden usually part-glazed.Gardens: Stone-walled front gardens, mainly dry stone,many surmounted with hedges.Roadway: Footway without verges, street lights on concreteposts.

Breary Lane East,Wynmore Avenue, LeedsRoad end of Tredgold Avenue, Kings Roadand Old Lane

Properties along these roads have been built mainly atwidely different times and are mostly of individualdesign. There is a mixture of houses and bungalows,many of substantial size with integral or attachedgarages. All have enclosed front gardens, those in theribbon development along Kings Road being set wellback from the road. Almost all were built in the secondhalf of the 20th Century, apart from a few old cottageslocated opposite the village duck pond on Breary LaneEast which have been modernised in recent years. Oneof these cottages is partially listed. Kings Drive, a cul-de-sac off Kings Road, contains only brick-built houses.Other than those in Wynmore Avenue, the houses inthis group generally enjoy open outlooks with distantviews.

The house at 57 Breary Lane East is quite out ofkeeping in scale and design, and lacks visual harmonywith the neighbouring houses in this semi-rural setting.

Materials: Apart from the few old cottages and the fewbrick-faced buildings, the houses mostly are partly stone-faced, or with stone plinths, and rendered upper parts, somewith gables and with concrete tiles in a variety of colours.Height: Mainly 2-storey, none higher, a few bungalows.Windows: Generally casement in wood or uPVC, many withbay windows.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens: Almost all houses have large front gardens withstone walls , either the original field walls or similar,separating them from the footway; some Old Lane houseshave hedges.Roadway: Grass verges separate the garden walls from thefootway or the footway from the road. Breary Lane Eastlacks footways beyond its intersection with Creskeld Lane.Street lights (only on Kings Road and the bottom of OldLane) are on concrete posts.

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Wynmore Avenue, typical Bramhope houses

Breary Lane, substantial 1930s houses

Parklands and Long Meadows

This group includes parts of Tredgold Avenue, TredgoldCrescent and Wynmore Drive, as well as the Parklandsand Long Meadows developments, which were startedin the 1960s. It comprises a wide variety of brick-builtdetached and semi-detached houses and bungalows.

Originally well-separated, the conversion of integralgarages to living accommodation and the building ofextensions has reduced the space between some of thehouses and the size of the gardens.

Materials: The brickwork is mostly flush or weather-pointed, many of the houses being partly rendered orpebble-dashed.The roofs vary in design and shape, includinghips, valleys and gable ends, and are covered with concretetiles in a variety of colours.Height: Mainly 2-storey, with a number of bungalows inthe Long Meadows area.Windows: Horizontal casement in wood or uPVC, manywith bay windows and/or picture windows.Doors:Wooden, wholly or partly glazed.Chimneys: normally built on external walls of detachedhouses and on the middle partition wall in the case of semi-detached houses or bungalows.Gardens: Mainly fairly small front gardens with very lowwalls in artificial stone, separating them from the footway.Roadway: Wide grass verges are between the footway andthe road. No street lighting except in Tredgold Crescent; lampposts are metal. The verges in the Long Meadows area areplanted with ornamental trees.Garages: Most proper ties were built with garages ,separate, attached or integral; a number of the latter havebeen converted into living accommodation and many frontgardens paved for parking.

The ‘Trees’

This area includes The Birches,The Poplars,The Cedarsand The Rowans.

Here, semi-detached bungalows were built in the 1930sto a simple rectangular design with gable ends andcomposition roof coverings. Haphazard extensions andin-fill have taken place over the years, much of whichhas not been in keeping with neighbouring properties.

The Sycamores, the upper part of the Birches and oneside of the Poplars have a mixture of houses andbungalows in a variety of styles.

When they were built, most houses had low stone wallsset back from the road enclosing the front gardens, butsome owners have removed the walls to extend theirgardens up to the edge of the road. This has marredthe visual harmony of the area.

Materials: The houses have brick foundations; a few haveentirely brick exteriors, others have brick or stone facings upto ground floor or window-sill level and white rendered wallsup to the eaves. Many of the original roof coverings havebeen replaced with concrete roof tiles of various colours.Height: A large propor t ion of bungalows , but TheSycamores, the top end of The Birches and one side of ThePoplars contain a mix of houses and bungalows of verydifferent sizes and styles.Windows: Generally casement in metal, wood or uPVC,many with bay windows.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens: Almost all houses have small front gardens withlow stone walls separating them from the footway; mosthouses in The Sycamores have hedges.Roadway: Throughout the area the roads are lined withtrees and grass verges. There is no street lighting, and theabsence of footways forces people to walk in the road.

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Parklands Gate, brick-built 1960s development

The Cedars, 1930s bungalows

The Creskelds,Hall Drive and Staircase Lane

A local builder developed much of this area betweenthe 1930s and 1960s. The site is wooded in parts andthere are still several mature trees on land that slopessteeply down towards the Wharfe valley. The houses,each individually designed, are large and spacious, mainlydetached, with large enclosed gardens.

There has been some in-fill and new developmentsparticularly in the recent past in Hall Drive andCreskeld Lane.

Materials: Some houses are built entirely of stone withrandom or coursed facings; others are stone-faced to firstfloor level, with a variety of timber mock-Tudor facings onwhite upper-half external walls. Roofs are covered withconcrete tiles in a variety of colours.Height: All are 2-storey, but some have garages underneathon the sloping site.Windows: Generally casement in wood or uPVC, some withbay or picture windows.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens: All houses have large front gardens with stonewalls of similar height to the original field walls.Roadway: Wide grass verges line the roads, with footwaysbetween verge and road or between house and verge.Thereis no street lighting.

Hall Rise Area

The development of this area, on a site that falls awaysteeply to the north of the A660, took place in the late1970s. The open plan layout of the site gives a spaciousfeel to the development.

The detached houses are in a variety of designs in agenerally consistent style. The roof constructionincludes modern prefabricated trusses, which allows fora wide range of options in the layout of first flooraccommodation and permits a variety of hips, valleys,dormers and gable ends.

Materials: External walls are largely stone-faced with whiterendering and some ‘mock Tudor’ details. Roofs are coveredin concrete tiles of a dark colour.Height: Mainly 2-storey, a few bungalows, some withgarages underneath because of the sloping site.Windows: Generally casement in wood or uPVC, many withprojecting oriel or bay windows.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens: The estate is laid out in an open-plan format, themajority of the houses being separated from the footway orroad by grass lawns without walls.Roadway: The roads off Hall Rise are narrow and lackfootways. High hedges obscure sight lines, creating dangersfor pedestrians and vehicles alike. Street lighting is onconcrete posts.

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Creskeld Drive, high quality 1930s housing

Hall Rise area from Creskeld Lane

Hall Rise, open-plan developmentHall Drive

Moorland Road

The houses at the junction of Moor Road andMoorland Road lie outside the existing vil lagesettlement area.

The properties include old rural cottages, Victorianvillas and a group of former Council houses. All haveenclosed front gardens.

Materials: The typical Victorian stone villas and the stonecottages have slate roofs, the former Council houses arebrick-built and partly pebble-dashed or cement-rendered,with dark tiles.Height: All are 2-storey, the villas having attics.Windows: Generally casement in wood or uPVC, the villashaving sash windows and bays.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens: The houses have individual gardens, separatedfrom the verges by wooden fences.Roadway: There are no footways and no street lighting.

Old Bramhope and the Outlying Farmhouses

There are still several small working farms withassociated farm buildings in the countrysidesurrounding the village and dating in the main from the18th century.

However, most of the buildings that were originallyfarmhouses, including those at the top of Old Lane in‘Old Bramhope’ and those in Moor Road, have beenconverted into private dwellings.

Materials: The farm buildings are usually stone-built withstone slab roofs, prominent stone chimney-stacks and tallchimney pots at the gable end. Some of the buildings haverendered external walls.Height: All are 2-storey, with fairly low eaves.Windows: Mainly small windows with wooden sashes.Doors:Wooden.Gardens: Individual gardens and yards, separated from thefootways by farm walls or wooden fences.Roadway: There are no footways and no street lighting.

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Former council houses

Victorian villas

Abbey House, converted farmhouse

The Cottage and Croft Cottage, Old Bramhope

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Hilton Grange

The Hilton Grange development is on the site of theformer National Children’s Home. The shells of theoriginal buildings have been retained and the unitsconverted into town houses. There are several newdetached houses, more town houses and some ‘lowcost’ housing. The roof-lines of the new town-houseblocks dominate the sky-line.

The development, like the Moorland Road area, isseparate from the existing village settlement area.

The grounds are open plan, with most of the propertiesgrouped around a large communal grassed area onwhich some trees have been planted. A number ofmature trees have been retained on the site.

Materials: The original buildings are in stone, laid incourses , with slate roofs; the new ones have beenconstructed using reconstituted stone with roofs of grey orconspicuously bright red tiles.Height: There are 2 new blocks of 3-storey ‘town houses’with ground-floor garages.The converted blocks and the newdetached houses have 2 storeys.Windows: Some casement, some sash in wood or uPVC.Doors:Wooden, usually part-glazed.Gardens:The fronts are open plan.Roadway: There are footways round the site and streetlighting is installed on metal posts.

PLANNING GUIDELINES

Bramhope has evolved over the years, and, while villagersrecognise that change will continue, they expect the changesto respect and sympathetically blend in with the existingcharacter of the village. In particular, planners shouldensure that wherever possible established trees are retained,new trees planted and grass verges introduced so as tomaintain the spacious rural ‘feel’ of the village.

High Ridge Way lies within the old City of Leeds boundaryand parts of Breary Lane East and the Creskelds are inArthington Parish. For there to be a coherent view ofdevelopments in the village of Bramhope, it is vital that allplanning applications in the LS16 9 postcode area should besubmitted to the Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council.

A large majority of the village’s residents are against anysort of large-scale development in Bramhope because this isseen as being likely to create a community of such a sizethat the village character would be lost.

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Hilton Grange,conversion of former National Children’s Home buildings

Hilton Grange, new houses

RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 All housing developments, in-fill and extensions shouldcomply with current planning regulations, includingthose of the Leeds UDP, and pay due regard to therecommendations of the VDS.UDP GP4, GP5

4.2 Planning permission conditions should be rigorouslyenforced and effective sanctions imposed for anyinfringements.UDP GP8

4.3 Building developments or gardens must not extend intothe Green Belt.UDP Appendix 5

4.4 On any substantial new development considerationshould be given to providing a mix of house sizes andtypes, within the context of the VDS.

4.5 The overall height of new buildings should notdominate neighbouring properties. New buildingsshould normally be limited to no more than 21⁄2 storeys,although account may be taken of the topography ofsloping sites.UDP N13

4.6 The demolition of serviceable housing merely toaccommodate high density developments is unlikely tobe compatible with the village environment and shouldbe rejected where the character of the village isdowngraded.UDP N12, N13

4.7 New developments should complement and integratewith adjacent areas in the village. Standard designsthat mimic styles from other regions are unlikely to beappropriate to the village character.UDP N12, N13

4.8 Existing unsympathetic architectural design should notbe taken as a precedent for other similar properties tobe built.

4.9 In-fill development will only normally be acceptable if itrespects the low-density nature of housing typical ofthe village, be of a similar size and height, andharmonise with adjacent properties, using original orsimilar building materials; boundary walls and fencesshould complement those of neighbouring properties.UDP N12,Appendix 3

4.10 Any property extension should complement the existingbui lding and be in propor t ion to surroundingproperties.

4.11 In-fill and extensions should not detract from thequality of life that near neighbours are entitled toexpect, such as privacy and light.UDP Appendix 3

4.12 The building line should normally be adhered to, unlessthere are demonstrable urban design benefits to thepublic realm in departing from it.UDP N12

4.13 Garage blocks and front-garden parking of cars andcaravans should not intrude on the amenity of viewsfrom the street or from adjoining dwellings or futureoccupiers.

4.14 The transition from new buildings to open countrysideshould be softened by appropriate landscaping andplanting.UDP N24

4.15 The formation of communities separate and isolatedfrom the rest of the village is undesirable.

4.16 The open nature of existing developments in the villagecreated by grass verges, wide footways, trees andgardens, is an attractive feature typical of the villageand should be protected. New developments mustincorporate all these characteristics in their design.UDP N1, N2, N4, N12, N23

4.17 Greenspace (public open space) should be provided bydevelopers for new developments of 10 or moredwellings (SPG No.4). This may include new on-siteprovision and/or off-site enhancement of existinggreenspace, in an agreed planning package, whichwould also cover finance and maintenancearrangements.UDP N23, SPG on Greenspace

4.18 Planning applications for change of use / conversion ofdwelling houses into commercial properties should beconsidered on their individual merits and may beappropriate, subject to their not adversely affectingneighbouring residential amenity.

4.19 The storage of goods and/or machinery intended forcommercial use should not be permitted at residentialproper ties if they adversely affect neighbouringresidential amenity.

4.20 Existing Tree Preservation Orders should be rigorouslyenforced, and new ones served where trees of publicamenity value are under threat.

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Not all changes to a property require planningpermission. With the exception of Listed Buildings andConservation Areas, householders do not need consentto alter the design of doors, windows, roof coverings orexternal wall materials and they can make smallextensions including porches up to a certain size limit.These changes are known as “Permitted DevelopmentRights”.

On some past developments, planning permission mayhave removed certain Permitted Development Rightsfor further alterations. This should be checked with theLeeds City Council Department of Planning andEnvironment.

Householders should consider very carefully how thealterations they may be considering could affect thecharacter of the village. The cumulative impact of smallincremental changes at odds with the prevailingcharacteristic details of an area can have a majoreroding effect on its integrity. As a guide:

• It is important to stand back from the property tolook at it from all angles, as others would see it.Decide what it is that makes the property eitherdistinctive or blend in with its neighbours, forexample roof line or roofing materials, colour,chimney pattern, window style and nature of theboundary wall.

• A closer examination will help identify the detailpeculiar to the building, e.g. the stone or brickworkdetail, design and shape of windows and doors, etc.

• Try to visualise the effect the proposed changes willhave on the property and how these are likely toreflect on neighbouring houses, especially if theproperty is attached to another or is part of agroup of properties of similar appearance.

• Take a closer look at other properties in the areathat have already been altered; it should be possibleto form an opinion as to which have beensympathetically carried out and which could havebeen better done.

• Having gone through the above procedure, theoriginal plans should be re-examined to determinewhether what is being proposed is reasonable ornot. If there are doubts it would be advisable todecide, in consultation with an architect, if there arealternative more acceptable ways of effecting thedesired changes.

RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Residents seeking to make Permitted DevelopmentRight changes to their property should follow theabove guidelines. They should enquire aboutcurrent regulations from the Leeds City CouncilDepartment of Planning and Environment, MerrionHouse, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8SH, tel:0113 247 8000, or consult an experiencedprofessional such as a building surveyor orarchitect.

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5. Permitted Development Rights and Small Extensions

Contrasting adjacent wall styles

Permitted Development - Porch

Bramhope has several noteworthy buildings and landmarksthat give character to the village, some of which are ‘listed’(see Table 1, and indicated by † below) and others (Table 2)which might be considered for ‘listing’.

The following describes the principal features andsettings of some of these.

The Puritan Chapel †

This ancient building is seen on the right hand side ofthe A660 as one leaves the village in the direction ofOtley. It is set back from the road in the grounds ofwhat is now the Holiday Inn.

The chapel, dating back to 1649, is a plain stone buildingfurnished with box pews and a three-tier pulpit. Thereis a small bell-turret at the west end.

The Methodist Church †

The Methodist Church is situated in Eastgate amongstresidential buildings, and was built in 1895 to replace amuch smaller chapel which was sited nearby. It is

considered to bea fine example ofVictorian non-c o n f o r m i s tchurch design.

It has been calledthe ‘Cathedral ofthe Dales’because of itsprominent spire,visible fromCookridge andHuby, itscruciform shapeand its stainedglass windows.

St. Giles’ Church

The Parish Church is situated in an elevated position atthe junction of the A660 and Church Hill. It is a well-known landmark and is seen directly ahead as oneenters Bramhope from the Otley direction.

It was erected in 1881 and is built of stone from localChevin quarries. It is a handsome and substantialbuilding, with a bell-turret, and is set in well-tendedgrounds. The hall, which was built in 1975, is attachedto the church and, while in contemporary style,complements the appearance of it.

The Robert Craven Memorial Hall

The Robert Craven Memorial Hall on Old Lane servesas the village hall. To one side of the Hall is a bowlinggreen, and to the other side are two tennis courts.There is a small car park at the front of the building.

The Memorial Hall was built in 1896, and is a stonebuilding with a red-tiled roof. The cost of itsconstruction was provided by the trustees of the Estateof Robert Craven, a local benefactor, for the use ofvillagers. It is fully used for many village activities;however access for those with disabilities is limited.

Unfortunately it lacks adequate facilities for it to serveas a youth centre and, since the old school building inBreary Lane was closed, there has been no permanentcentre where younger members of the community canmeet for recreation.

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6. Noteworthy Buildings and Landmarks

Interior of Puritan Chapel

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The Cross

The lantern and signpost, directing travellers toCookridge, Leeds, Otley and Bradford, is situated at abusy crossroads in an area also known as The Cross, atthe top of Church Hill in the historical core ofBramhope. It was originally erected in 1876, close to itspresent site.

In 1997 the immediate area around The Cross waspaved with brick setts, to improve traffic flow andcontrol parking within the area. Hanging basketsenhance the appearance of this well-known landmarkduring the summer months. The Parish Council isresponsible for its upkeep.

The Fox and Hounds Public House

The Fox and Hounds is one of Bramhope’s best-knownlandmarks, prominently situated at The Cross. It wasbuilt in 1728 and has been modernised from time totime. It is substantially stone-built, with an attractivefrontage, and blends in well with surrounding buildings.

The School

The school is centrally situated on a large open sitewith playgrounds and playing fields between TredgoldCrescent and Breary Rise. There are two separateschool buildings; both are brick-built with largewindows and flat roofs. Constructed in the 1960s and1970s when Bramhope expanded considerably in size,they are typical of school buildings of the period. Theplaying fields and school buildings are presentlyunderused.

Pupils have to travel outside the village for theirsecondary education.

Bramhope Medical Centre

The new Bramhope Medical Centre is tucked away in acorner of the school site with vehicular access offTredgold Crescent.

It is a purpose-built two-storey building ofcontemporary design. The ground floor external wallsare faced in brick. Dormer windows and fanlights inthe roof provide light to the upper rooms and thewaiting room. It has its own parking area of barelyadequate size.

The War Memorial and Garden of Remembrance

The War Memorial, in honour of those local men wholost their lives in the two world wars, is set in a gardenof remembrance on a small site in Eastgate, oppositethe Methodist Church. A Service of Remembrance isheld there each year.

For the Millennium year the memorial site has beenredesigned, and the original bronze plaque has beenreplaced by a new polished granite war memorial.

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The Fox and Hounds and The Cross

Bramhope Tunnel

The Leeds to Harrogate railway line runs underneaththe centre of the vil lage in a tunnel which wasconstructed between 1845 and 1849 as part of theLeeds to Thirsk line. The tunnel is over 2 miles long.

The northern entrance† to the tunnel, in the woodedravine near the former Arthington station, is castellatedand was for a time used as a residence for railway staff.There are four ventilation shafts to the tunnel, oneprominently situated adjacent to Leeds Road inBramhope.

The tall stonesighting tower†

at the junction ofMoor Road andMoorland Roadwas built toestablish theu n d e r g r o u n droute of therailway. Theselandmarks arewell known tolocal people andalso to railwayenthusiasts.

Milestones and Mileposts †

There are 7 milestones and 3 metal-faced mileposts onthe A660 in Bramhope that are of historical interest.Distances to local places are marked in miles andfurlongs on the milestones.

Private Houses

There are a number of older stone-built houses, someof which have been referred to in Sections 2, 3 and 4,which play a vital role in defining the character of thevillage. Most of these are in the village centre, althougha number are spread throughout the parish. Several ofthe houses are of considerable architectural merit and afew have been ‘listed’ (Table 1). Others are of sufficientimportance to the village for them to be considered for‘listed’ status (Table 2).

PLANNING GUIDELINES

A case could be made for the establ ishment of aConservation Area in the heart of the village. This wouldresult in there being more control over possible demolition orinappropriate conversion of unlisted buildings in the Area. Itcould in addition give access to funding for preservationmeasures. However, the VDS Group did not feel able torecommend taking such a step at this stage but felt that thematter should be kept under review.

UDP N21

The settings and views of a number of buildings andlandmarks are of value and need to be protected. Theseinclude St Giles’ Church, the Puritan Chapel, the Fox andHounds, The Cross, the gazebo on Hall Drive, the sightingtower,The Croft and The Grange.

UDP BD2

Examples of views that have recently been marred are thoseof The Smithy from Old Lane (partly obscured by thedevelopment at Old Forge Mews) and of St Giles’ Church(marred by the proliferation of street signs and lamp-standards at the bottom of Church Hill).

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Sighting Tower, off Moorland Road

The Croft, dating from the 17th century

Milepost Milestone

RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 The older buildings and landmarks, together with theirsettings, dealt with in this section are unique toBramhope and add to its character. They are muchappreciated by its residents and should be preservedfor future generations to enjoy.UDP N12

6.2 Although there are no conservation areas in the village,planning applications for properties in the older partsof the village must be very carefully monitored with aview to retaining the character of the area.UDP N21

6.3 The planning restrictions that apply to ‘listed’ buildingsmust be rigorously enforced. Preservation measures tosuch properties should be supported by funding fromthe public purse, charitable trusts, heritage lotterygrants or other suitable sources.UDP N14, N15, N16, N17, Appendix 3

6.4 A survey of older buildings in Bramhope should becarr ied out with a view to making fur therrecommendations for the listing of additional buildingsto the appropriate Government department.

Table 1 †

SCHEDULE OF ‘LISTED’ BUILDINGS

Grade IPuritan Chapel

Grade IIMethodist Church4 & 6 Eastgate (Weavers Cottage)The Hollies on Old LaneManor House on Manor Close1 Church Hill (Farmhouse)Old Manor Farmhouse on Church HillBarn off West Side of Church HillCottage, Breary Lane East (partial)Gazebo in garden of 14A Hall Drive Sighting Tower off Moorland RoadBramhope Tunnel North Portal7 stone Milestones3 metal Mileposts

Table 2

EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS THAT MIGHT BECONSIDERED FOR ‘LISTED’ STATUS

St Giles’ Church The CroftThe Smithy Mill House FarmThe Grange The Cross

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The Gazebo, Hall Drive Manor House

The open spaces in Bramhope are diverse in characterand are located within the village itself and on the edgesof the village. They contribute towards the feeling ofspace that characterises the village as well as providingthe space needed for the promotion of recreational andsporting activities, which play an important role in thecommunal life of Bramhope.

The open spaces situated within the village include:

• The Knoll with its play area and equipment foryoung children.

• The bowling green and tennis courts, adjacent tothe Robert Craven Memorial Hall.

• The ‘Mini-park’ by the side of the A660 road,between The Birches and Wynmore Avenue, thesouthern part of which has been landscaped. Someof this land is privately owned and the remainder isowned by The Department of Environment andTransportation.

• The landscaped area at the bottom of Kings Road.

• One or two parcels of uncultivated land that add tothe spacious appearance of the village.

On the edge of the village there are the following openspaces which are used for a range of leisure andoutdoor sporting activities:

• The Bramhope Primary School playing fields.

• The West Park Bramhope Rugby Club fields off TheSycamores.

• The large well-used Scout campsite on OccupationLane.

• The recreation ground on Old Lane which is usedby the cricket and football clubs, and local residents.This land was purchased by public subscription forthe people of Bramhope in memory of the villagerswho had been killed in the First World War. It wasopened in 1920, and a plaque and memorial stonewere unveiled there on 6th May 1936. Additionalland was later purchased and levelled to form afootball pitch in more recent years. The ParishCouncil is responsible for the upkeep of theGround.

These areas of open space at the edge of the villagemake for a smooth transition from village to opencountryside. They add to the rural character of thevillage of Bramhope.

The Parish has its own well maintained cemetery,established in 1861 off Moor Road, on the southernedge of the village. Its upkeep and the maintenance ofthe grounds, enclosure walls and gates became theresponsibility of the Parish Council in 1894.

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7. Open Spaces

The Knoll, children’s playground

The Mini-park beside the A660

The Recreation Ground on Old Lane

Bramhope is fortunate in having Golden Acre Parkpartly within the Parish. It is a large public park, with alake, gardens and woodland maintained by Leeds CityCouncil. Together with Breary Marsh, a less formalstretch of land which is a Site of Special ScientificInterest, it forms part of the Green Belt betweenBramhope and Leeds. These areas of open space areenjoyed by people from the whole of the Leeds area.

Bramhope’s well-separated houses surrounded by theirlarge gardens provide much of the open space in thevillage. The grass verges, trees and wide pavements addto the spacious layout of all but the very oldest part ofthe village.

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Greenspace and other open land identified on theLandscape Setting map on pages 10 and 11, whichcontribute to the rural character of Bramhope, should beretained.

RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1 Golden Acre Park, Breary Marsh and The Chevin aremuch valued important open spaces which should beretained and could with advantage be extended.UDP N1

7.2 Existing Greenspace, designated in the UDP (PoliciesN1 and N6) as public open space and both public andprivate playing pitches, within and on the edges of thevillage contribute towards the spacious ‘feel’ of theplace and should be retained.UDP N1

7.3 The recreational areas cater for sporting activities andany reduction in these facilities must be resisted.UDP N6

7.4 Future housing developments should be wel llandscaped to provide an appropriate setting to thedevelopment, and should harmonise with or be animprovement on the surrounding garden character,including the boundaries with the street and adjoiningproperties.UDP N23

Communal gardens of higher density developmentsuch as flats should provide sufficient amenity gardenspace to be compatible with the surrounding gardencharacter and should not be compromised by parkingarrangements.UDP BD5

Greenspace should be well located so as to beaccessible and overlooked, for safety and amenitypurposes. The Council’s Supplementary PlanningGuidance (No.4) gives further information on this.

7.5 Proposed developments on private green space withinthe village boundaries should be carefully controlledand, if accepted, should follow the recommendations ofthe VDS. Developers should be responsible forlandscaping such sites.

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Golden Acre Park - view towards the lake

Creskeld Crescent with view across Wharfedale

Bramhope is well served by a network of public rightsof way within the built-up areas and in the surroundingcountryside (see the Landscape Setting map on pages10 and 11). These include definitive footpaths andothers which have been in common use for over 20years. These footpaths are much appreciated by thecommunity.

Those within thebuilt-up areasare well used byresidents to getabout the village.‘Ginnels’ act asuseful shortcuts.

Those in thes u r r o u n d i n gcountryside arepopular at alltimes of the yearparticularly forr e c r e a t i o n a lpurposes. Someof them formpart of the

national long-distance pathway network, and, as a result,many walkers pass through Bramhope as they followthe Ebor Way and the Dales Way Link.

There is a variety of stiles and gates on the publicfootpaths. Many metal signposts are in poor conditionand often are not marked with a destination.

There is only one bridleway within the village whichcan, therefore, legally be used by horse-riders, walkers,and pedal cyclists. It runs from the corner of the A660,opposite St Giles’ Church, in the direction ofArthington (see the Landscape Setting map on pages 10and 11).

Leeds City Council, acting as the Highway Authority, hasa statutory duty to assert and protect the rights of thepublic to enjoy the public path network. The publicrights of way section based within the Leisure ServicesDepartment carries out this function. Additionallythere is a group of Parish Councillors and localresidents who voluntarily help to maintain and improvethe footpaths.

RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1 Footways, footpaths and ‘ginnels’ within the built uparea of the village should ideally be paved or hard-surfaced (and lit where appropriate), to encouragetheir use by more members of the community.

8.2 Stiles and gates should wherever possible be of auniformly good design, easy to negotiate, and typical ofthe area. The design should be approved by the publicr ights of way section in consultat ion with thelandowner and the representatives of the villagecommunity.

8.3 Signposts should, where appropriate, be wooden, of adesign agreed jointly between Leeds City Council’sPublic Rights of Way section and representatives of thevillage community, and clearly marked with thedestination where feasible.

8.4 In any new developments, the public rights of waynetwork should be retained (and where possible itscharacter preserved) to al low easy pedestr ianmovement throughout the village and ready access tothe surrounding countr yside . Where possible ,extensions and improvements to the local pathnetwork should be sought from developers.UDP N10, N12

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8. Footpaths and Bridleways

Dales Way Link and Ebor Way

Footpath by The Knoll

New wooden signpost in Bramhope

Highways and Traffic

Access from Bramhope to the nearby centres ofpopulation is good. Leeds city centre is just seven milesaway, and the market town of Otley is less than threemiles away, via the A660 road. Bradford and Harrogateare also within easy reach via the A658 road, whichpasses to the west of Bramhope.

The A660 enters the village from the Leeds directionhaving passed through the Green Belt land that containsGolden Acre Park and Breary Marsh. There is apleasing open aspect across the Marsh towardsCookridge. On the Otley side of Bramhope there areextensive views to the north across Wharfedaletowards Almscliffe Crag and up the Washburn Valley.

The road islined on bothsides, for themost part, withgrass vergesand ancientdry-stone walls.In some placesthe original wallhas beenreplaced by anew wall orfence that istoo high, of thewrong materialsor of aninappropriatedesign. This isdetrimental tothe character ofthe village.

Houses on either side of the A660 as it passes throughthe village are set well back from the road. The grassverges and mature trees lining the road add to the ruralaspect and give the road a spacious feel.

The speed limit of 40 mph along this stretch of theroad is a reasonable compromise for motorists andresidents. The pedestrian islands, pelican crossing andhatched road markings contribute further to roadsafety.

The A658 ascends Pool Bank steeply to reach the highground between Wharfedale and Airedale. There arespectacular views across Wharfedale to Harrogate andbeyond. From the top of Pool Bank there are longdistance views beyond the airport to the south acrossAiredale.

Traffic along the A660 and the A658 is heavy,particularly at peak periods. Through traffic is alsoheavy in Eastgate, Breary Lane, Church Hill, Moor Road,Old Lane and Kings Road.

A number of road safety issues needs to be addressed.The intersection of the A660 and the A658 at theDyneley Arms crossroads remains an accidentblackspot even though it has traffic lights. The junctionof the Otley Old Road with the A658 at Carltoncrossroads remains another notorious accidentblackspot. Many accidents occur here, but not all arereported to the police. It is hoped that the addition oftraffic lights at this junction will improve the situation.

The Bramhope Cross and Eastgate areas are dangerous,because of the weight of traffic, the speed at which ittravels, the narrowness of the roads and poor visibility,particularly when there are parked cars. The siting of theentry to the Fox and Hounds car park and parking onthe road outside the public house create severe hazards.

There is a free public car park off Old Lane and parking isallowed on most roads, but there is still insufficient parking.

Congestion occurs at the parade of shops, The Cross,and around the School and Medical Centre at certaintimes of the day. It is difficult to see where any new carparks could be located. The situation would be

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9. Highways and Transport

Traffic congestion at junction of A660 and Church Hill

Carlton Crossroads –a dangerous junction

Trees and verges alongside the A660 in Bramhope

improved if people could be persuaded not to use theircars when making short journeys.

The programme of improving footways and crossings tomake them suitable for prams and for those withdisabilities is welcome but is incomplete.

There are no cycle lanes on the main roads passingthrough Bramhope but, if there were, the carriagewaywould become far too narrow for safety.

Road Furnishings

Road markings and the design, location and condition ofroad furnishings have a marked visual impact on the village.

Bramhope does not have a road furnishings policy andthe wide variety of road furnishings does little toidentify the village as a place unique and separate fromLeeds. There should be a policy but, in the absence ofone, the proposals made in the VDS should be adopted.

There used to be‘Bramhope’ signsby the roadsideon the approachesto the village butthey have beenremoved. Itwould be helpfulfor motoristsunfamiliar with thearea if the‘Bramhope’ signswere to bereplaced, and itwould beappreciated by theresidents if thenew ones were ofa design unique tothe village.

Clear unambiguous road markings are essential, but ifthere are too many and if these are badly-sited or inpoor condition they can be confusing and even

dangerous for motorists. The road markings on thesurface of both the A660 and the A658 seem to be areasonable compromise; certainly there is no need forthe red markings and overuse of paint that is much inevidence elsewhere.

Official road direction signs would be adequate if theywere well-sited, kept clean and not obscured byvegetation. Problems are caused by advertising signs,usually erected without planning permission. Irrelevantsigns such as the one at the Kings Road roundaboutadvertising the Park-and-Ride in King Lane, MoorAllerton should be removed.

There is an unnecessarily large number of posts in thegrass verges and on the footways alongside the A660.The appearance would be much improved if there wereco-ordination between those responsible for signs andposts; for example, bus stop signs could be attacheddirectly to shelters and other signs grouped on existingposts. Telegraph posts and lamp standards that are inthe middle of the footway are a danger to pedestriansand should be moved.

There are two different sorts of bus shelter inBramhope, the metal and glass type provided by WestYorkshire Metro and the stone-built ones provided andmaintained by the Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council.A majority of residents prefer the stone bus sheltersbecause they are more in keeping with the character ofthe village but it is not always easy to see approachingbuses from inside them. Where there is insufficient spacefor a stone-built shelter, the metal and glass shelters havebeen installed at some stops. Unfortunately, they are of adesign that is used throughout Leeds. Metro ought tohave a choice of shelters available, some suitable forurban locations, others for rural locations like Bramhope.

Bramhope still retains two of the old red BT telephoneboxes, one outside the post office and the other onMoor Road. There is a modern one by the Mini-park,but it is poorly sited and as a result creates a danger totraffic when users park their vehicles alongside it.

The Royal Mail should try to make ‘Postmen’s Pouches’less conspicuous.

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The usual parking problems at The Cross

Postmen’s Pouches

Stone bus shelter on A660 -note that in this case the bus stopsign, timetable and litter bin are all

attached to the lamp post

There are several different sorts of litter-bin in the village.It would improve the overall look of Bramhope if theywere replaced by new ones in a dark colour, of a uniform,attractive design, capable of keeping the litter dry.

Transport

Transport is effectively limited to private car, taxi orbus. The nearest railway station is 3 miles away atHorsforth, but there is no bus link from Bramhope.The only bus services through Bramhope run on theA660 between Leeds and Otley, Ilkley or Skipton, with afew weekday services to Holt Park and Pool. Theservices are much criticised as being infrequent andunreliable.

The existing Park-and-Ride scheme from Moor Allertonto Leeds City Centre is out of the way for Bramhoperesidents and approached by roads that are narrow,winding and unsuitable even for their present weight oftraffic . The proposed Park-and-Ride facil ity atLawnswood that is associated with the Supertramproject will eventually be valuable, but it will not reducethe road traffic passing through Bramhope to and fromplaces further out.

Leeds Bradford International Airport is increasingly busy.Although it is conveniently close for Bramhope users, thereis again no bus link and, indeed, Bramhope suffers from thetraffic between north-west Leeds and the airport.

There is a clear need for improved and better-integrated public transport in the area, which could beaided by additional rail facilities such as a spur to theairport and the re-opening of Arthington station withassociated car parking.

RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1 Permitted in-fill along the A660, within the built-up areasof the village, should be set well back from the road.

9.2 The existing low stone walls and grass verges that linemuch of the A660 must be retained, and restoredwhere necessary.

9.3 All speed limits should be more rigorously enforced.

9.4 The 40 mph speed limit on the A660 should beextended beyond the Staircase Lane junction in thewesterly direction. Consideration should be given toextending speed restrictions to Golden Acre Park in theeasterly direction.

9.5 Measures to improve safety should be taken at theDyneley Arms crossroads and at Carlton crossroads.UDP T22

9.6 Safety measures to control traffic movement within thevillage are necessary. The introduction of traffic calmingmeasures should be considered, but the over-zealous use ofcoloured markings on the carriageways should be avoided.UDP T23

9.7 There should be a campaign to encourage morepeople to walk about the village rather than use theircars and to initiate a school travel plan.

9.8 The programme of improving footways and crossings tomake them suitable for prams and those withdisabilities should be continued.UDP T6

9.9 Notwithstanding the recommendation made under 9.7,parking provision in the village is so poor that there is still aneed for more public car parking near to the shops, to reduceon-street parking and encourage the use of local shops.UDP S8

9.10 Street furnishings, road markings and signposts shouldbe of a uniformly good design, functional and typical ofthe area. The choice as to what is most suitable shouldbe agreed jointly between representatives of the villagecommunity, the Highways Agency, the City of LeedsHighways Department and any other Agency involved.

9.11 Concrete lamp-posts detract from the appearance ofthe village and should be replaced by a design moreappropriate to a rural location. The design shouldminimise light pollution without compromising safety.

9.12 The overall number of posts for road signs should bereduced to a minimum by multiple use whenever possible.

9.13 Telegraph posts and lamp standards should be sited sothat they do not obstruct the footway.

9.14 Postmen’s Pouches should be sited inconspicuously andpainted in a colour that matches the surroundings.

9.15 Public transport must be improved, particularly if there areto be any significant new building developments. Any suchdevelopments should be accessible to public transport.UDP T9

9.16 Measures should be taken by Metro and the buscompanies to make travel by public transport morefrequent, more reliable and more comfortable.UDP T9

9.17 There should be a bus service between Bramhope andLeeds City Station, possibly linked through to LeedsBradford Airport.UDP T9,T30

9.18 New bus shelters should be constructed in local stonewherever possible, and in a design similar to theexisting ones.

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Most of the issues dealt with in this section are notstrictly design issues but they are important for the villagenevertheless. The VDS Group hopes that they will betaken up by the Parish Council or the community at large.

There is some economic activity in the village providingemployment opportunities, but most residents who go outto work find employment in the nearby towns and cities.

A wide variety of social and sporting facilities isavailable and well used by Bramhope residents andpeople from the surrounding area.

Economic Activity

The village shops include the post office, a pharmacy,several food outlets, hairdressers, newsagents, two estateagents, and an optician. In common with many villagesthere is no longer a bank in Bramhope, neither is there acash point. The situation would be improved if the postoffice were able to offer a full range of banking facilities.

The local shops and the services they provide,particularly the post office, are greatly appreciated bythe villagers and any further reduction in their numberswould be a blow to the community. Unfortunately tradesuffers because the shops are not all grouped togetherand most residents travel by car to the supermarketsthat have opened nearby in recent years. It is difficult tosee how the elderly, who may not drive and who makeup a significant proportion of the village’s population,would be able to cope if there were fewer shops.

Traditional farming no longer provides significantemployment even though there are still fifteen workingfarms in the locality. These are all relatively small,varying in size from about 25 to 120 acres. Much of theland is used for hay production or for the grazing ofbeef cattle and sheep but there is also an intensive pigfarm and one farm produces milk and eggs.

There is a large well-used Scout campsite on OccupationLane and a large static caravan site on the edge of thevillage. A smaller site on Moorland Road caters fortouring caravans. These satisfy current demand.

Recent years have seen a growth in horse riding forleisure purposes with the consequent growth indemand for land for stables and grazing.

The profitability of small farms is becoming increasinglydifficult to sustain and so the national trend of convertingfarmhouses and their outbuildings into private houses orgroups of houses for non-farming people is taking place.Because farms are usually located in the Green Belt, thechanges have an effect on the appearance of thecountryside that is not always for the better.

The Holiday Inn has over a hundred bedrooms bringingoutsiders into Bramhope for short periods and providingemployment for about fifty people, many of whom comefrom outside the village. The hotel is not an attractivebuilding and, as plans for expansion arise from time to time,any proposed development will have to be closelymonitored to ensure that it is more in keeping with the area.

There are two quarries on the edge of Bramhope, whichspoil the outlook from certain parts of the village.However, they do provide employment opportunities forabout thirty men, most of whom live outside the village.

Leeds Bradford International Airport and the nearby industrialestates and warehouses are situated within two miles of thecentre of the village. They continue to expand and so can beexpected to provide more opportunities for employment ofboth skilled and unskilled workers from the area.

More people are now working from home, for exampleindividuals with building, gardening, motorcar servicing,catering or hairdressing businesses. Increasingly too, asa result of developments in computing andcommunication technology, a growing number of peopleare able to do their office work at home.

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10. Economic and Social Environment

The Parade of Shops, Breary Lane - much valued butunhappily built in a style out of keeping with the area

The Holiday Inn (formerly the Post House Hotel)

Social Environment

Buildings used for the social activities of residentsinclude the Robert Craven Memorial Hall, St Giles’Church Hall, the Methodist Church Hall, BramhopePrimary School, the Holiday Inn, Ramada Jarvis(formerly The Parkway) and Chevin Lodge Hotels,WestPark Bramhope Rugby Club and the Scout Hut.

The Robert Craven Memorial Hall is fully used for mostof the year and caters for indoor bowls, badminton, theart club, the bridge club, a drama group, china painting,wine tasting, dancing classes for adults and children, andmeetings of the Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council.The Bramhope Branch of the Royal British Legionmeets in the Hall regularly and there is a Thursday Clubfor ladies and a monthly meeting of the YorkshireCountrywomen’s Association. There are weekdaychildren’s nurseries both here and at the PrimarySchool during term time, which provide much neededfacilities for children of pre-school age. BramhopeFlower Show is an important village event that is heldannually in the Hall and its grounds. Unfortunately, thefacilities of the Robert Craven Memorial Hall are barelyadequate for present day needs, and access for thosewith disabilities is limited.

St Giles’ Parish Church and the Methodist Church arewell supported. The two churches have a number ofjoint activities including a newly formed YouthFellowship for teenagers.

St Giles’ Church Hall and Committee Room are usedfor meetings of the Junior Church, the Choir, Mothers’Union, Women’s Fellowship, Men’s Supper Club,Pathfinders, two Brownie packs, a Rainbow pack, teadancing, a luncheon club, young mums and toddlersgroup, circle dancing and occasional fund raising events.

The Methodist Church Hall is used by the SundaySchool, Thursday Wives Group, Women’s Fellowship,Morning Fellowship, mothers and toddlers group, amonthly youth club, Girl Guides and a badminton club.

Bramhope Primary School provides education forchildren between the ages of 5 and 11. At present it

has surplus accommodation, but with children fromnew developments this situation could change. There isan active Parent-Teacher Association, and social eventsare held outside normal school hours for pupils andtheir parents. Unfortunately, the school premises areno longer used for further education classes, aprovision which is greatly missed.

The extensive hotel facilities at the Holiday Inn, RamadaJarvis and Chevin Lodge Hotels are used forconferences, wedding receptions and similar functions.Each has a health and leisure club with a gymnasiumand swimming pool for residents and club members onpayment of a fee. There is no public leisure andsporting facility in the village.

The West Park Bramhope Rugby Club has premises forhire and for the use of its club members. A licensed baris open six evenings a week for club members and theirguests. The club’s facilities are used by a fly-fishing club,an antique collectors’ club and there is the occasionaldisco.

A Scout group, Cub and Beaver packs meet weekly inthe Scout Hut during term time.

Sporting Activities

There are two football clubs whose teams play theirhome games during the football season on theRecreation Ground. In the summer months BramhopeCricket Club uses the Recreation Ground for its homematches. Players come from the village and furtherafield. The Ground and its well-equipped pavilion aremaintained by the Bramhope and Carlton ParishCouncil.

The West Park Bramhope Rugby Club teams play theirhome fixtures at The Sycamores. There are two seniorteams and ten junior teams with players as young as 7years old playing mini-rugby. International teams have inthe past used the ground’s facilities for training. Playerscome from all parts of Leeds to play for the Club. Inthe summer months the grounds are used by the PandaBowmen.

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A Brownie Pack uses St Giles’ Church Hall each week

West Park Bramhope Rugby Club grounds on The Sycamores

The Bramhope Bowling Club plays on the Greenadjacent to the Robert Craven Memorial Hall. It ispopular with the older residents and, unlike the footballand cricket clubs, draws its members mainly from theresidents of Bramhope. Indoor bowls is played in theHall during the winter months.

The Tennis Club has two hard courts, also in thegrounds of the Robert Craven Memorial Hall. The Clubis open to junior, adult and family members. Thisthriving club, the majority of whose members comefrom Bramhope, deserves better facilities.

Bramhope Primary School’s extensive playing fields areunder-used and not available at present to thecommunity at large. The site could provide improvedsporting and leisure facilities for all of the village ifagreement could be reached with the EducationAuthority.

Walking groups and numerous individuals make use ofthe network of footpaths in the vil lage and thesurrounding countryside, as a means of keeping fit andto enjoy the scenery.

Horse riding is becoming increasingly popular,particularly with younger people. A number of stablesin Bramhope offer riding facilities. They would be moreacceptable if they did not have so many unsightlymakeshift buildings on site and if the grounds were kepttidy.

Clay pigeon shooting takes place on a farm withinearshot of the village on most Sundays in the summer.

Other Social Amenities

The three groups of shops in the village act as placeswhere people can meet friends from other parts of thevillage at the same time as they do their shopping.

The new centrally-situated Medical Centre provides anessential service for residents of all ages. As well as thedoctors’ surgery, it now accommodatescomplementary-medical practitioners and a privatedental surgery, but there are at present no doctors’surgeries on a Saturday.

A mobile library visits the village twice weekly. Thisservice is well used by borrowers of all ages, but it isclearly limited in what it can offer and there is a strongargument for the village having a permanent library ofits own.

The Fox and Hounds public house should rightly beincluded as a centre of social activity for the adults of thevillage and others from elsewhere. It provides normalbar facilities, and offers a comfortable place for people tomeet, talk and relax over a drink. Food to be eaten onthe premises can be bought there and at the three localhotels. In addition there is a fish and chip shop andrestaurant, and shops from which sandwiches and piescan be bought for consumption off the premises.

Although there is a number of activities in the villagefor the younger members of the community, there hasbeen no permanent youth centre since the old schoolbuilding in Breary Lane was sold. There is a need for aplace in Bramhope where young people can meetsocially. Apart from The Knoll on Breary Lane and theRecreation Ground on Old Lane, there is little spacefor young people to play informally; this is particularlytrue in the ‘Trees’ area.

Law and Order

The most common crimes in Bramhope are vandalism,burglaries, and the theft of cars and of possessions fromhouses, cars and garages. Neighbourhood Watch teamshelp to reduce the incidence of this sort of crime butthe problem remains.

The Weetwood Police Division of West Yorkshire Policeis responsible for the maintenance of law and order inthe village. At present there are more than a hundredpolice officers in the Division, which operates aCommunity Policing policy for different Areas in theDivision. A team of four police constables and onepolice sergeant, backed up by the rest of the WeetwoodDivision, is responsible for the Otley, Wharfedale andAireborough Area. Bramhope is a part of this Area andhas the benefit of access to the team of officers, butunfortunately it no longer has a police officer directlyresponsible for the village.

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Bramhope Bowling Club

Walkers using a local public footpath

RECOMMENDATIONS

10.1 Any proposals to provide new hotels, large retail outletsor other large commercial enterprises are likely to beinappropriate in Bramhope and should be directed to amore appropriate location because the village isprimarily a residential community.

10.2 Permitted extensions to existing hotels should seek toblend in with their surroundings. Screening with treesshould be a requirement of any planning consent .

10.3 Further expansion into the Green Belt of warehousefacilities or industr ial activity adjacent to LeedsBradford International Airport should be rejected. Anyadverse environmental impact caused by existingoperations should be kept to the absolute minimum.

10.4 The village shops provide a valuable service for thecommunity. Any reduction in the number of such shopsshould be resisted.UDP SA8

10.5 Bramhope Post Office must be retained, and a cashpoint facility provided.

10.6 The Community Policing team for Otley, Wharfedaleand Aireborough should be pro-active in trying toestablish and encourage more neighbourhood watchgroups. It should also try to work more closely with thevillage’s elected representatives and other organisationsin achieving common aims.

10.7 There should be Saturday morning GP surgeries at theMedical Centre.

10.8 The surplus accommodation at Bramhope PrimarySchool should be used for Further Education andleisure activities.

10.9 The primary school playing fields should be madeavailable outside school hours to the local community.

10.10 Additional informal play areas are needed, especiallyin the ‘Trees’ area.

10.11 There is a great demand for a new purpose-builtcommunity centre, to supplement the facilities providedby the Robert Craven Memorial Hall. The new buildingcould be designed to include a hall, indoor sportingfacilities, meeting rooms and a kitchen, and havesuitable access for those with disabilities. The centrecould house the facilities for the young that many feelare not adequately catered for in the village. Alternativeuses for the Robert Craven Memorial Hall could befound if, as a result, it became underused. TheBramhope and Carlton Parish Council should set up aGroup to look into the desirability and feasibility ofproviding such a facility. The project could become animaginative early millennium initiative for the village.

10.12 The village would benefit from having its ownpermanent library.

10.13 Leisure and social opportunities for teenagers areinadequate, and appropriate facilities should beprovided either in existing premises, such as the ScoutHut, or in purpose-built premises of the sort envisagedunder recommendation 10.11.

10.14 The Parish Council is a tier of local government thatmust be retained as an integral part of the democraticprocess.

10.15 The Bramhope village community should seek to bestrongly represented on the newly formed Otley andWharfedale Community Involvement Team (CIT) andits various committees.

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This VDS has made a number of recommendations, theimplementation of which will have a significant impacton development in the village in the future. Inevitably,the recommendations have had to be selective andjudgements have had to be made. The decision has notbeen difficult when there was a clear majority either foror against a particular issue but when there weredivergent views the editors have tried to come to aconsensus when making their judgement. They haveattempted to ensure that the recommendations do notmerely represent their own personal opinions but arebroadly in line with the views expressed in theQuestionnaire and at the public meetings held during1999 and 2000.

The results of the Questionnaire and the draft VDSwere made public at a meeting and exhibition held inApril 2000. The response was favourable and the VDSGroup is confident that the final version broadlyrepresents the views of the residents of Bramhope.

Whenever changes are proposed that are likely toaffect the appearance of the village and the quality oflife enjoyed by its residents, there will be those who arein favour of the changes and others who are not.Some people see any form of change as adverselyaffecting the character of Bramhope and feel thatrecent developments have altered the character of thevillage for the worse. Disappointment with newbuildings can lead to a resistance to any sort ofdevelopment, but the village must change if it is tothrive. The VDS provides an opportunity for thecommunity to make its contribution to acceptablechange.

It has become clear from the analysis of theQuestionnaire and the comments at the Exhibitionsthat Bramhope residents wish to preserve thecharacter of the village. They are particularly anxious toavoid any unnecessary growth of the village outside itspresent boundaries and for the Green Belt to bepreserved. High density development would not bewelcomed, and new housing, in-fill and propertyextensions are expected to be of a type and size thatdoes not conflict with existing properties. There is aneed for public transport to be improved. The villagewould benefit from having a new community centre,with modern facilities and a place where young peoplecould meet.

The adoption of the VDS demonstrates Leeds CityCouncil’s continuing commitment to the democraticprocess in which the views of local communities aregiven due prominence so as to ensure ‘Best Practice’ inmaking planning decisions that affect the community.The VDS provides the basis for working in partnershipwith the City Council.

The VDS has dealt with a wide range of issues. Theimplementation of some recommendations will be theresponsibil ity of the local community. Theimplementation of others will require action by theHighways and Transport Authorities. There are,however, many recommendations that will inform andguide the City of Leeds Department of Planning andEnvironment in responding to applications fordevelopments in the village.

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11. The Future for Bramhope

The Duck Pond on Breary Lane East

Residents value views such as these which are at risk from future development.

Spring Wood from the A660

The authors do not accept any responsibility for any legal or financial consequences arising from inaccuracies or errors in the Bramhope VDS.

12. Acknowledgements

1. The Countryside Agency’s advisory booklet VillageDesign (Ref. CCP501) was the inspiration for anenthusiastic group of Bramhope residents to takeon the task of preparing a VDS for the village ofBramhope. The work of researching, editing,document design, fund raising, publicity, takingphotographs, production of the videos and helpingout at the exhibitions has been carried out by ateam of dedicated volunteers drawn from a widecross section of the community. The Chairman ofthe VDS Group thanks everyone who hascontributed in whatever way towards theproduction of the VDS.

2. The members of the Bramhope VDS Group thankall those residents of the village of all ages whodemonstrated their interest in what the group wastrying to achieve by coming to the meetings andexhibitions, and by completing the Questionnairethat had been circulated to every household in thevillage.

3. The members of the Bramhope VDS Group thankthe Officers of Leeds City Council Department ofPlanning and Environment for their advice and co-operation.

4. The VDS Group thanks all those individuals,businesses and organisations listed below whohave contributed towards the costs of theQuestionnaire, the Exhibitions and the printing ofthe VDS:

Bramhope Art ClubBramhope & Carlton Parish CouncilBramhope Tennis Club

Bramhope Village PlayersChristine’s Greengrocers, BramhopeConsort Homes Ltd, HorsforthController of HMSOThe Cottages B&B, BramhopeCouncillor P CoyneCrosby Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd, HarewoodMrs D EmmettCouncillor J EveleighC F Harris (Quarry Products) LtdHigh Trees Farm Nurseries & Garden Centre,

HorsforthA J HodgettsJarvis Parkway Hotel & Country ClubCouncillor G KirklandLa Boutique, BramhopeLawnswood House of Flowers, LeedsLeeds Bradford International AirportMahony & Ward Ltd (Goods Funeral Services), OtleyManning & Co, Estate Agents, LeedsMassingberd (Otley ) LtdMone Brothers Ltd, BramhopeC NewmanOtley Motors LtdOtley & Wharfedale Community Involvement Team Sara’s of Bramhope (Hairdressers)Stephen Smith Garden Centre, Pool in WharfedaleThe Spice of Life (Party Caterers) BramhopeStancliffe Pharmacy, BramhopeThe Tuesday Club, BramhopeThe Village Bakery, BramhopeWalker Smale, Estate Agents, OtleyWaye & Son,Travel Agents, OtleyJ B Wilkinson & Sons, BramhopeYorkshire Rural Community CouncilYorkshire Water (The Kelda Group), Bradford