Ilkley Civic Society

03/11/2026

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02/11/2026

The Ilkley Civic Society has objected to the proposal for the new design of the public toilets in Ilkley Town Centre Car Park. The current building badly needs to be replaced. Yes, but not with the proposed design. The building is in a key position in the town centre conservation area, and demands care and attention as it is replaced.
The proposal is poor, visually and architecturally, with little obvious attempt to meet the needs of locals and visitors, or to integrate it with local businesses. The proposals lack information about key elements which are normally required for such a sensitive proposal.
Find more information here and read our submission in full:

https://civicsociety.ilkley.org/whats-on/latest-news.html?view=article&id=257:car-park-proposed-rebuild&catid=25:news-and-updates

22/10/2026

The Ilkley Civic Society Planning Team review all planning applications in the Ilkley area and make comments and recommendations to Bradford Planners, based on their knowledge of the town and its planning policies.
The following applications have recently been notified to us and are being reviewed. If you have any comments, please let us know at [email protected] Further information is available on Bradford’s Planning Portal.
NOTE IN PARTICULAR THE PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH AND REPLACE THE TOILET BLOCK IN THE TOWN CENTRE CAR PARK.
If you want to support the important work of the Society, you can join the Society as a member:
https://civicsociety.ilkley.org

/03312/HOU 16.9 8 Chantry Close. Single storey front extension
/0333/CLP 17.9 48 Bolling Road. Construction of new flat roof dormer on the rear elevation. Alteration to existing side roof to remove existing roof lights and addition of solar panels on a particular side elevation. Removal of existing chimneys. Addition of new roof light to front roof pitch.
/03362/HOU 18.9 3 Oakburn Road. Construction of front basement entrance by demolishing the lower wall to make room for access steps and replacing basement windows with a new front door and window. Removal of rear chimney stack and installation of rear dormer.
/03288/HOU 22.9. 2 Gordon Street. Construction of two storey extension and boundary fencing.
/02951/HOU 22.9 20 Wheatley Avenue. Demolition of conservatory. Construction of single storey front extension, partial garage conversion, fenestration/external alterations including installation of solar panels to front and side, installation of air source heat pump, boundary wall and additional parking area.
/03194/HOU 22.9. Cherry Blossom House, Lakeside Close. Construction of first floor rear extension on steel supports with inset balcony.
25/03601/ SUB01 22.9 5 Princess Road. Submission of details to comply with Condition 3 (tree protections)
/03396/HOU 22.9 Far Meadow, 37 Ben Rhydding Drive. Construction of front dormer windows, replacement of windows to all elevations, installation of bifold doors to ground floor and relocation of patio doors to lower ground floor, construction of new retaining wall to extend driveway and removal of chimney (part retrospective)
/03427/CLP 23.9. 22 Manley Road. Solar panels on rear facing roof.
24/04403/SUB06 25.9 Land at Denton Road .Submission of details required by Condition 10 (ecological/biodiversity), 28 (vehicular and pedestrian access)
/02179/NMA01 28.9 23 Grange Estate. To reduce the width of single storey rear extension
/03464/LBC 25.9 Thorpe Hall, Queens Drive. Works to facilitate the installation of full fibre internal wiring. Extending the wiring from the basement of Thorpe Hall to each of the apartments through invisight cabling and full fibre termination boxes to each of the apartments
/03496/HOU 29.9. 41 Leeds Road. Construction of front dormer with glazed balustrade. Rear step access and extended from light well to basement.
/03567/HOU 2.10 24 Manley Road. Construction of additional first floor to existing dwelling. Single storey front extension to create garage. Canopy of front porch.
/03570/HOU 2.10 7 Ghyll Royd. Demolition of conservatory and construction of single storey rear extension.
/03536/VOC 30.9. Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club. VOC Condition 4(creation of carparking facility before use implemented) of PA25.04725/MAF
/03453/HOU 3.10 19 Middleton Avenue. Alterations to fenestration to include installation of bi-fold doors, new side windows, new side door and roof lights. Enlargement of hardstanding to the south eat corner to the plot for parking and turning.
/03324/FUL 6.10 Public Conveniences, South Hawksworth Street Car Park. Demolish and replace the existing public toilets.
/03625.LBC 6.10 Hollin Hall, Skipton Road. Replacement of existing chipboard flooring with oak engineered floor boards to first floor bedrooms and landing.
/03639/ADV 7.10 Ben Rhydding Sports Club. 2 x non illuminated Yorkshire grit slab welcome signs
/03637/PN1AA 7.10 117 Curly Hill. Works for the construction of additional storeys immediately above the existing topmost residential storey on an existing dwelling house. Plan proposals: additional storey 1, maximum height of the additional storey 3m, maximum height of the resulting building 86m.
/03666/HVC 8.10 4 Wheatley Rise. VOC Condition 4 (planting scheme)
/03694/HOU 9.10 27 Eaton Road. Single storey side extension and installation of solar array.
/01614/HOU 12.10. 26 Moorfield Road. First floor rear extension; increasing ridge height of property and alterations to various fenestration.

The Society welcomes donations to support its important work caring for Ilkley. You can now donate online and enable the Society to reclaim gift aid here 

21/10/2026

🪦 **The story behind a headstone: Mary Mansfield and the Breffit family**

During its ongoing maintenance of Ilkley Cemetery, the Friends of Ilkley Cemetery uncovered a headstone commemorating Mary Mansfield, who served the wealthy Breffit family for nearly 40 years.

Edgar Breffit was a successful glass manufacturer whose business near Castleford eventually employed more than 1,000 people. He also became an alderman and Sheriff of the City of London. His daughter, Rosa Beatrice Breffit, eventually settled in Ilkley.

Mary’s story is more elusive. Born in Cheadle, Staffordshire, in 1828, she was looking after her two younger sisters by the age of 23. Later census records trace her from domestic service in Leicester to the Breffit household, and eventually to Ilkley, where she lived with Rosa.

Mary died in 1920, and a local newspaper described her as the devoted maid of Edgar and Susannah Breffit and their daughter. Rosa appears to have cared for Mary in her final years and ensured that she was given a substantial headstone.

We still know little about Mary's personal life, including whom she married or whether she had children. Nor can we be certain how her long service to the Breffit family began. But her headstone offers a touching glimpse of a relationship that endured across decades and generations.

**Thanks to the work of the Friends of Ilkley Cemetery, Mary's story is being brought back to life.**

Read more here: https://civicsociety.ilkley.org/whats-on/latest-news.html?view=article&id=256:mary-mansfield-grave&catid=25:news-and-updates

Mary Mansfield: The devoted maid of the Breffit family An inscription on a headstone in Ilkley Cemetery reveals the story of a remarkable life of service,...

19/10/2026

‘The Good, The Bad and the Ordinary’
Ilkley Civic Society Design and Conservation meeting, 22 October Church House, 7.30pm

Bradford Council has issued a draft of its Local Plan for consultation. The plan includes proposals for nearly 600 homes in Ilkley and over 200 in Addingham.

Read more here: www.ilkleychat.co.uk/post/have-your-say-new-housing-sites-proposed-for-ilkley-and-addingham

Our meeting on 22nd October is now very timely, taking the form of a presentation based on the above title with audience participation. How we decide what is good or not so good is only one point of view. There is an opportunity for the wider community of Ilkley to speak out on design and conservation in the town…

• Ilkley building stock is predominately Victorian, so how do we judge applications for contemporary buildings?
• And the space between buildings is just as important – how can we control that?
• How do we achieve a balance between pedestrians, cars and other uses?
• Housing or employment, how do we balance the two?
• How can we influence the planning system?
• How can we influence other departments of Bradford Council who have powers to bypass the planning system?

Come and hear our views, let us hear your views and learn how to have a say on the future


Contact David Blackburn
[email protected]

12/10/2026

Ilkley Civic Society’s next meeting is on
Thursday 22 October at 7.30 pm in Church House
‘The Good, the Bad and the Ordinary!’

The Society runs a regular Design and Conservation Award for projects in the town.

In anticipation of our awards next year, we are presenting examples of good, bad and ordinary design and conservation projects and seeking your views as to which fall into which category.

Your views will help ICS with their responses to planning applications.
Things to consider might include –
- The juxtaposition of modern design with heritage buildings.
- Space between buildings.
- Balancing pedestrians, cars and other uses.
- Housing or employment.
- How we can influence Bradford Council.


We look forward to seeing you on 22 October and hearing your views, where we may be looking at the proposals for the new toilet block in the town centre car park (see below).

https://www.ilkleytowncouncil.gov.uk/2026/10/brook-street-public-toilets-rebuild-project/
Look out for our comments on the consultation currently taking place.

27/09/2026

A very interesting talk at Ilkley Manor House on Friday, by Pat Hudson, Maureen Johnson and Denise Shillitoe, about the life and times of Sir Peter Middleton, who lived at Middleton Lodge, Ilkley, and Stockeld during the turbulent times of Elizabeth I, James I, Charles I and The English Civil War. Their research into the Middleton Archives (now held at Brotherton Library, Leeds University) are reflected in their new book, AGAINST THE TIDE. Meticulously researched this illustrated book is available at The Grove Bookshop for £13.99.

24/09/2026

The Ilkley Civic Society Planning Team review all planning applications in the Ilkley area and make comments and recommendations to Bradford Planners, based on their knowledge of the town and its planning policies.
The following applications have just been notified to us and are being reviewed. If you have any comments, please let us know at [email protected] Further information is available on Bradford’s Planning Portal.
If you want to support the important work of the Society, you can join the Society as a member:
https://civicsociety.ilkley.org

/03065/HOU 1.09: Rams Gill Cottage, Skipton Road Installation of roof mounted solar panels.
/03108/FUL 1.09: Scout Hut, Wheatley Lane Construction of single storey detached storage building with covered area to side for use ancillary to Scout Headquarters Building.
/03173/HOU 7.09: 6 Cardon Drive Demolition of existing garage and construction of a single storey side extension
/03197/PN3MA 8.09: 7 the Grove Change of use of the upper floors of the building from Commercia, Business and Services (use Class E) to two residential apartments (Class C3)
/02956/ADV 8.09: 5 Railway Road 1 non-illluminated shopfront fascia sign and 1 non-illuminated wall mounted signboard to side elevation
/03129/HVC 10.09: Deepdale, Westville Avenue Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) …. To allow for alterations to approved driveway layout, retaining walls and drainage and provision of cycle store (retrospective)
/03243/LBC 11.09: Apartment 3, Wells House To manufacture and fit new draught stripped, double glazed patio doors plus frame and fan light to replace existing defective doors.
/03106/FUL 14.09: Flats 1 &2, 31 Lister Street Amalgamation of two existing flats to form 1 5 bed dwelling.

The Society welcomes donations to support its important work caring for Ilkley. You can now donate online and enable the Society to reclaim gift aid here

22/09/2026

The Friends of Ilkley Cemetery create a bit of magic in clearing an area of the cemetery, an important feature of Ilkley, historically and environmentally.

The Friends meet weekly, weather permitting, on Tuesday afternoons. Contact [email protected] if you are interested.

Check out the Before and After views here:

16/09/2026

Enjoy this video produced by Verbeia Grange after The Ilkley Civic Society installed its latest blue plaque in recognition of the contribution of the Troutbeck hydro to Ilkley’s past, and now looking to the future.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/28269884365999893