HISTORIC parts of Prestwich and Whitefield are to be made official conservation areas.

Town hall bosses want to preserve some of the finest buildings from the Victorian/Edwardian era, which would mean homeowners would be restricted from making "inappropriate" changes to their properties.

The proposed Poppythorn Conservation Area in Prestwich encompasses houses either side of Guest Lane, Glebelands Road, Langley Road, and parts of Poppythorn Lane and Nursery Road.

The All Saints Conservation area in Whitefield, meanwhile, takes in almost all buildings from Church Lane to Pinfold Lane, bordered by Bury New Road and Higher Lane, and part of Ringley Road.

Bury Council says these areas have special architectural and historical interest which needs to be protected, especially, in the case of Whitefield, from prospective developers.

Formal designation would mean tighter controls over demolition of buildings and removal of trees, along with extension plans, window and door alterations, and satellite dishes.

Until now, St Mary's Park in Prestwich is the only one of the borough's nine conservation areas situated in the south of Bury.

The Poppythorn Lane area is described as "a small, well-preserved and almost complete suburb of Victorian and early Edwardian streets", its houses dating from between 1860 and 1904. Assessors have praised their tall gables, stone, brick and terracotta detailing, ornate chimneys, original timber porches and stained glass.

The Whitefield site is dominated by the Grade I Listed All Saints Church, and features "substantial and well-preserved" Regency, Victorian and Edwardian houses on Church Lane, along with early 20th century properties on Hamilton Road. It also boasts fine late 19th century buildings in Pinfold Lane, and two large former houses in their original grounds (Underley and Uplands).

The plan was approved by councillors at Wednesday's (Nov 12) executive. They will now consult all affected property owners, plus local and regional interest groups. They say the areas will be formally designated unless there are significant objections.