Roughly speaking, those parts of the village north of Main Street and Oswaldkirk Bank are situated in the North York Moors National Park and those parts which are south of Main Street and Oswaldkirk Bank are in the Howardian Hills National Landscape (formerly AONB). So Oswaldkirk is divided down the centre. Most of the village is also situated within a Conservation Area, which may have implications with regards to planning issues.
As of 1st April 2023 all local government responsibilities now belong to North Yorkshire Council. The two-tier system of split responsibilities between District (Ryedale) and County Council (North Yorkshire) has been abolished; however many services are still administered on an area basis, so the ghost of Ryedale lives on.
These responsibilities include the whole range of local planning (unless within the National Park in which case this authority takes precedence), building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism, education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, fire services, Trading Standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.
A (revised) Village Plan was drawn up in 2014 to collate opinions, highlight areas in need of improvement and inform local authorities of issues relating to the village.
Oswaldkirk Conservation Area
Conservation Areas are defined in the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990 as ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. These areas are considered to have the most important environmental quality in the District.
As most of the village is situated in a designated Conservation Area, it is important for residents to be aware of restrictions in planning and development. For example planning permission may be required for certain types of development which are elsewhere classified as permitted development.
Conservation Area status helps to protect attractive features such as buildings, trees and open spaces. These additional controls are designed to preserve or enhance the character of the area and the quality of design and are particularly aimed at preventing ‘creeping development’, for example, the replacement of cast iron guttering with plastic. However, grants may be available to mitigate the cost of traditional materials.
Of note there are controls within the Conservation Area and the National Park with regards to the felling and even pruning of trees (in addition to those with Tree Preservation Orders). It is worth checking with the National Park or Ryedale District Council before any work of this nature is undertaken.
For more information on heritage, conservation areas and listed buildings see the Heritage, conservation areas and listed buildings in Ryedale pages on the North Yorkshire Council website.
North Yorkshire Council
North Yorkshire Council
County Hall
NORTHALLERTON
North Yorkshire
DL7 8AD
☎ Switchboard: 0300 131 2131
Website: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/
North York Moors National Park
North York Moors National Park Authority
The Old Vicarage
Bondgate
Helmsley
YORK
YO62 5BP
☎: 772 700
Website: https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/
Email: general@northyorkmoors.org.uk
Howardian Hills National Landscape
Howardian Hills Staff Team
The Old Vicarage
Bondgate
Helmsley
YORK
YO62 5BP
☎: 01609 536 778
Website: https://www.howardianhills.org.uk
Email: info@howardianhills.org.uk
Malton Registration Office (Births, Marriages and Deaths)
Malton Registration Office
Ryedale House
Old Malton Road
MALTON
North Yorkshire
YO17 7HH
Open by appointment only: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00.
Wednesday: 09:00 – 13:00.
Online appointment booking: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/contact-us/2462
☎: 0300 131 2131