The chairman of the Countryside Commission has given Oxenhope's village design statement his seal of approval. Richard Simmonds said people in Oxenhope had set a 'fine example' to other areas in the country, with their plans to maintain the character of the village.

Board members from the commission were shown around the village by residents who have taken an active part in drafting the village design statement. They were shown how new buildings in the village have been tailored to fit in with the original architecture.

Mr Simmonds says the efforts of people in Oxenhope will serve as a guideline for other villages across Britain. "The success of Oxenhope's design statement demonstrates how local people can influence directly the way in which their settlement and surroundings will look in the future," he says. "This positive approach to planning, with residents and council officers working together, is a model for halting the loss of local character in rural areas and turning the tide for a quality and distinctive future.

"The design statement in Oxenhope will be an example to other villages across the country, and all involved with it are to be complemented on the result."

Oxenhope is the only village in West Yorkshire to have drawn up a village design statement, which provides a guide line on how future buildings should be constructed to fit in with the original character of the village.

The statement has taken 18 months of consultation to produce, and if approved by Bradford council, it will be used as a supplementary guide for planners.

Chairman of the village design statement group Councillor Derek Allen, is now concerned that all of the hard work will be put into practice.

He explains: "If the statement is accepted by Bradford council it will form a supplementary planning guide, providing developers with guidance for when they build new properties.

"We hope it will work, and we hope the planners will use the document. It is now up to Bradford council to put this into action and make sure it works effectively.'

The village design statement in Oxenhope was funded by the Countyside Commission, which acts as the government's countryside and landscape advisor.

Oxenhope's design statement is currently being studied by the planning and conservation departments at Bradford council.

If approved by the council, the statement should be published and in use by the summer.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.