Helsby Parish Council and Cheshire West and Chester have proposed the creation of a Conservation Area around Helsby Hill.

Conservation Areas aim to protect and enhance the particular architectural or historic interest of a place, partly by introducing additional planning controls on projects that might alter the appearance of the area.

This Conservation Area would encompass Helsby Hill and Helsby Quarry, as well as the village's Victorian housing, some of which is historic worker accommodation.

It would also contain around a dozen listed buildings, including St Paul's Church, Helsby War Memorial and the 'Spite Houses' on Robin Hood Lane.

Within the Conservation Area, works that might otherwise be classed as permitted development would require planning permission if they were believed to diverge from the overall character of the existing buildings.

Residents wishing to fell or prune any trees considered 'important for the amenity of the area' would also need to seek permission.

The Conservation Area proposal document added that: "Views into the village and conservation area are very important and should be retained, framed and enhanced by soft landscaping.

"New builds should follow the existing building line, scale, proportions and colours of properties adjacent. This should avoid pastiche or poorly applied building features and should be a well-designed contemporary response."

You can view the draft appraisal of the proposed Helsby Hill Conservation Area on the Helsby Parish Council website

This will be available for six weeks from today (January 4) online or from the Parish Council offices at 200, Chester Road by appointment and Covid restrictions permitting. You can call Claire on 01928 726433 for more details.

Residents are invited to express their views via post or email to the Parish Council. There will also be an opportunity to attend a Zoom meeting to discuss the subject with representatives from Helsby Parish Council and Cheshire West Council at a later date.