Ten neighbourhoods in Shropshire protected as “conservation areas” are under threat from neglect, decay and damaging development, English Heritage warned today.

They include places such as Whittington near Oswestry, Shifnal, and Beckbury, as well as Clee View in Highley and Neenton, both near Bridgnorth, where sites have been neglected, or “improved” out of character.

The report says Clee View – a long terrace of 19th Century houses built for the families of local miners – has had almost all the original front doors replaced with modern four panel patterns, and more than a third of the original windows have been removed and fitted with UPVC.

English Heritage says this has damaged the heritage value of the conservation area which is derived from the buildings’ consistency.

The report says Neenton – a small village in a deeply rural setting comprising a group of farm buildings, a pub and the local church as well as several residential properties – has many timber framed farm buildings which are in “a very poor state of repair”.

It adds that the pub has closed and says there is a lack of any economic activity in the village and the deterioration of recent years is “not expected to stop”.

All 10 sites in Shropshire are named in English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register 2009 published today.

The register offers the most detailed ever insight into the state of the region’s historic treasures and also includes the results of the first ever national survey into the condition of our conservation areas.

Nationwide, one in seven conservation areas is under threat.

Some 9,300 places ranging from historic town and village centres to suburbs and industrial areas across England are designated as conservation areas by local authorities to protect their special character and appearance.

These areas – designated by local councils to protect their unique character and appearance – represent the heart of the region’s built heritage.

Now, based on the survey’s findings, English Heritage is launching a Conservation Areas at Risk campaign to get residents, local groups and councils working together before it is too late.

For the survey, English Heritage asked all local authorities in the region to complete a questionnaire for each of its conservation areas.

By Tom Johannsen