HERITAGE officers have criticised a development in a conservation area after artificial materials were used for a parking area instead of stone setts.

In 2016 Bradford Council granted permission for the conversion of Ghyll Court on Wells Walk, Ilkley, from a nursing home to three dwellings.

One condition of the approval was that a parking area in front of the 19th Century building, which is in the Ilkley Conservation Area, be laid with stone setts to match the existing back street leading to the property.

Last year Jane Verfuerth submitted a retrospective planning application calling for that condition to be lifted, saying an "alternative set" was laid during construction due to the high cost of stone setts.

The application said: "There were a number of unexpected costs which arose at an early stage during the project which meant that any contingency was quickly used up and any additional costs could have lead to the development becoming financially unviable.

"Using stone sets would have been more costly and it was considered that the material used was sympathetic."

But Bradford Council has now refused to drop this condition.

Heritage officer Jon Ackroyd said: "There is no compelling justification for the use of an artificial material for the paving, immediately adjacent to the setted back street.

"The paving does not match and results in a loss of character to the conservation area with no balancing benefit.

"Stone setts are readily available and their use here is essential to maintain the character of the conservation area, adjacent to this key unlisted building."

Ilkley Civic Society had also objected to the plans.

Refusing the application, planning officers said: "The installed block paving contrasts sharply with the existing surface treatment of the back street in terms of its colour, unit size and flat profile and the overall effect is considered to be harmful to visual amenity and would have a negative impact upon the character and appearance of the Ilkley Conservation Area."