Paving Over An English Paradise – US-FOREX.US
With its picture-postcard views and ancient landmarks, Britain’s idyllic countryside and cultural heritage are some of the country’s great tourist attractions. But it seems many of these sites are under threat from the trappings of modern living.Around 83% of the nation’s 9,300 conservation areas, which include local landmarks, battlefields and buildings, are blighted by out-of-place renovations like double-glazed windows and doors. Almost half have acquired satellite dishes, and nearly a third have had fences, gardens and hedges altered without permission, according to an English Heritage study published Tuesday.
Even minor additions can have a powerful impact on a property’s historical value, said Dr. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, who commissioned the study: “Lose these and slowly but inevitably you lose the character and the history that made the area special in the first place.”Just take the derelict Whitfield Tabernacle, a country church dating back to 1741, and the 1860’s Kensington terraces of Barons Court, which are covered in satellite dishes . Organizations like English Heritage worry that such sights have become jarring for the 32 million or so tourists who spend 26.1 billion in Britain every year and expect a first-hand look at Ye Olde England.
“People do come and expect that every town and village will be surrounded by cultural heritage,” said a spokesperson from English Heritage. According to a recent poll by Visit Britain,73% of tourists claimed they would visit castles, stately homes and famous buildings on a visit to the country. “Most people agree on the need for protection.”
Modern accessories can also hurt property values. According to the survey, 82% of estate agents felt that original features added financial value to properties and 78% believed they helped a property to sell more quickly.
“Potential purchasers feel that the integrity of an area will not change and that any development works will be sympathetic to the surrounding,” said Dean Harding of Good Life Estate Agents Ltd. in Sunderland. “This makes people feel more secure in deciding to buy.”