Plans to extend three villages' conservation areas

Over Kellet, Whittington (pictured) and Yealand Conyers with Redmayne are all earmarked for bigger conservation areas

Three historic villages in north Lancashire could have their conservation areas extended to further protect their character.

Over Kellet, Whittington and Yealand Conyers and Redmayne are all earmarked for bigger conservation areas by Lancaster City Council.

Over Kellet's conservation area was first designated in 1973, followed by the others in 1981.

The city council's cabinet is being recommended by officers to approve new detailed draft conservation area appraisals for all three villages, as well as proposed extensions.

'Local architecture'

The villages all currently have conservation area "assessments" rather than "appraisals" which carry more weight in planning decisions.

According to a report prepared for the council, risks to the villages include some modern buildings which "tend to be uniform" and do not suit local architecture, pressure on open spaces, the loss of traditional windows and doors, and fixtures such as satellite dishes.

The city council also hopes to update other conservation areas including those in Heysham, Lancaster's Williamson Park, Greaves Road, Westfield war memorial village, Wennington and Gressingham, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Over Kellet

• Over Kellet has historic links to the Booker family, known for the eponymous literary prize and the early Quaker movement

• There is evidence of a gated village green from the 14th Century to provide protection during unrest; and many 17th and 18th Century houses have dated lintel stones and chamfered and mullioned windows

Whittington

• The village is associated with the Rev William Carus Wilson, a former rector and founder of charity schools for girls. He also founded the Clergy Daughters' School in Cowan Bridge, which the Brontë sisters attended and is thought to have inspired Mr Brocklehurst, from the book Jane Eyre

• It has the remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle, which was one of a chain of castles along the Lune Valley. It has a large number of late 1600s farmhouses, a Georgian Old Rectory from 1728 and buildings by Lancaster architects Paley & Austin, including a former school on Main Street dating back to 1875

Yealand Conyers and Redmayne

• Yealand Redmayne has many traditional farm buildings, 17th Century farmhouses. The local limestone gives the buildings character

• Yealand Conyers Quaker meeting house, which dates from 1692, is Grade II* listed and the earliest in Lancashire. There are also weaving houses and a former flax mill