Experts believe eight or nine of the district’s 57 historic conservation areas could be under threat following the results of a nationwide survey which were revealed today.

For the first time, English Heritage’s annual Heritage at Risk register includes details of these areas which are designated to protect their character and appearance.

A survey was sent to all local authorities but, due to a mix up, English Heritage did not receive Bradford Council’s responses within the original deadline and they will be included on next year’s register.

Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage regional director for planning and development, told the Telegraph & Argus: “Bradford is doing good work in its conservation areas and perhaps partially because of that they didn’t get the survey information back to us in time.

“Bradford has nearly 60 conservation areas and, based on the national picture, we would expect eight or nine of these to be at risk.”

He added: “We are not in the naming and shaming game. Residents, businesses and councils all have a role to play. This survey is a first step in understanding the threats they face. We now need to find solutions and we will target our conservation area grants on places identified as being at risk.”

The Council’s senior conservation and design officer, Jon Ackroyd, said: “We have carried out a comprehensive character assessment for all the district’s conservation areas and through a five-year review programme, we can monitor change and respond accordingly to protect our historic environment.

“The special conservation work we carried out in Idle and The Green has been a huge success, improving the appearance and stimulating local interest in the area, as well as allowing us to get the most from the planning applications.”

Two buildings on English Heritage’s at risk register – which are also in conservation areas – are Manningham Mills, Heaton Street, Bradford, and Old Cotton Mill building at Low Mill Lane, Keighley.

English Heritage is starting a Conservation Areas at Risk campaign to get residents, local groups and councils working together to improve them.

The 2009 register also contains full details of all scheduled monuments and registered parks and gardens at risk, for the first time, as well as buildings.

In the Bradford district, there are ten buildings, 21 scheduled monuments, one garden and one battlefield at risk.

For more information, visit english-heritage.org.uk/conservation areas or english-heritage.org.uk/ risk.

e-mail: jo.winrow@telegraphandargus.co.uk

Bradford's 57 conservation areas:

Addingham; Apsley Crescent; Baildon; Station Road, Baildon; Ben Rhydding; Bingley; Braithwaite; Brunthwaite; Burley in Wharfedale; Cathedral Precinct; City Centre; Clayton; Cullingworth; Devonshire Park and Cliffe Castle.

East Morton; Eldon Place; Esholt; Goitside; Goose Eye and Laycock; Great Horton; Hainworth; Haworth; Heaton Estates; Hodgson Fold; Idle and The Green; Ilkley; Keighley Town Centre; Leeds-Liverpool Canal; Leeming; Little Germany; Little Horton Green; Little Horton Lane; Little London; Low Utley; Lower Wyke.

Menston; Micklethwaite; Middleton; North Park Road; Oakworth; Oxenhope Lower Town; Oxenhope Station Road; Oxenhope Upper Town; Queensbury; Ryecroft; Saltaire; Silsden; Southfield Square; St Paul’s; Stanbury; Steeton; Thornton; Tong; Undercliffe Cemetery; Whetley Grove; Wilsden; and Wrose.