Landscape & Streetscape
Whilst massive changes have taken place to the surrounding rural landscape since 1939, the more immediate village fields and village street settings are still much as they were a century ago - as featured on the outside cover.
Due to the late Inclosure of fields from 1883/84, Riccall still looks like a village built on a medieval street and footway pattern. The village lies along the 5m contour with a high point of 8m, and is contained by the River Ouse to the west, heath and wetlands to the east and Riccall Dam to the north. The parish extends to 1000 hectares, with the built village covering 140 hectares, and its past prosperity is based on the high quality grade 2 agricultural land upon which it lies.
The early growth of the village took shape in a rough square surrounding the Church and along the main roads to York, Selby and Cawood. Many of the properties with period features are situated within the designated Conservation Area. It is here that the greatest care has to be taken to ensure that development does not compromise the existing streetscape.
Recommendation:
Existing views in and out of the village should be maintained, when considering development.