Langcliffe - Yorkshire Dales National Park

PART I1DCLG et al. (2010) PPS5:Historic EnvironmentPlanning Practice Guide,paragraphs 5, 6 & 8.1.0 IntroductionThe historic environment provides a tangible link with ourpast and contributes to our sense of national, local andcommunity identity. It also provides the character anddistinctiveness that is so important to a positive sense ofplace. […] The historic environment is a unique, fragile andnon-renewable resource which contributes to the economy,society and daily life. Once lost, it cannot be replaced 1 .This document provides the first comprehensive appraisal of theLangcliffe Conservation Area within the Yorkshire Dales National Park,although a brief report on the conservation area was written by MichaelLamb as part of An Appraisal of Settlements in the Yorkshire DalesNational Park in 1991.Throughout the text, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will bereferred to as ‘we’, or ‘the Authority’.1.1 The AreaLangcliffe was given conservation area status on 01 January 1978. It isnow one of thirty-seven such designations within the Yorkshire DalesNational Park. An area of 7.92 hectares encompasses most of the villageand some of its surroundings. The overall character of the place is bothinformal in terms of its historical development and rural due to itsvernacular architecture and natural landscape setting (figure 01).Langcliffe is a very attractive conservation area and generally in goodcondition (see 4.4.j).Figure 01: Langcliffe village:informal and rural character(photo © Gaby Rose, YDNPA,2009)1.2 The AppraisalPurpose. Every conservation area has a distinctive character which hasbeen shaped over time by its natural and man-made surroundings. Thisappraisal is an opportunity to re-assess the Langcliffe Conservation Area,to evaluate and record its special interest (see 3.0-4.0). It will set out howthe place has evolved, draw out the key elements of its character andquality as it is now, and define what is positive and negative, andopportunities for beneficial change. However, neither the designation norappraisal should be seen as an end in itself, but as a step towards thepreservation and enhancement of Langcliffe’s character and appearance,providing a basis for making sustainable decisions about its future.Conservation areas can be susceptible to incremental and dramatic4