Kippax is an ex-mining village in a semi rural environment and is locally unique in its situation being surrounded by green belt and arable farmland. The aim of the project is to assess and analyse the character of the village in relation to its historic origins and sites of heritage interest, and in the context of the surrounding countryside environment. Volunteers will map the character areas of the village under the direction and guidance of a qualified Architect/Urban Design Consultant acting on the Group's behalf on a voluntary basis.
Three questionnaires are to be designed and distributed. One for the adult population and one each for the primary and High School children, the latter two being designed by the children themselves. The Steering Group will oversee the questionnaire results and the mapping exercise findings will be interpreted by the Consultants under guidance.
It is the group's intention to involve the local population in the exercise and process by the use of publicity, public meetings, displays and consultation. From this and other background work the Steering Group will write and publish a Village Design Statement. A publicised launch event will mark the conclusion of the project and the document will be submitted to Leeds City Council for adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance. Copies of the final VDS will be available at five local schools, libraries, Leeds City Council Planning Offices and will be available to members of the public by donation.
The group's intention with the VDS is to undertake a community investigation of the heritage resource of Kippax leading onto future LHI funded heritage projects possibly including restoration and preservation of the historical features and a major archiving of local residents photographs, recorded memories, maps etc.
