PLANS to demolish an existing home and replace it with a larger house at Bradup Farm, Keighley, were rejected by councillors this morning. (August 16)

Members of Keighley & Shipley Area Planning Panel turned down the application for the isolated site, which is on Ilkley Road, on the approach to Ilkley Moor above Riddlesden.

Bradford Council planning officers had already recommended the proposals should be refused, citing the harm the development would inflict on the character of the green belt.

Addressing members of the panel earlier today, planning officer Laura Eastwood said the current flat roofed one-storey house at Bradup Farm is in a poor condition but not so badly dilapidated that it cannot be re-occupied.

She said a previous owner of the same site had won permission to build a new house here, but pointed out that the latest application is for a substantially bigger property.

Councillors were told the more recent design is for a five bedroom house and a large stable block.

Keighley East ward councillor Malcolm Slater, who spoke in favour of the application, said: "Although this is called 'Bradup Farm', it has always been a house with stables rather than a farm.

"There's nothing else near it and there have been no objections. There has been a petition, but that has been for this to be referred to the [planning] panel so councillors can vote against their officer's recommendation.

"I don't think this would have any negative impact on the landscape. This is simply about building a modern version of something that's been there for decades."

Cllr Cath Bacon said: "This would go from being a single storey flat roof building to a two and a half storey five bed house.

"I don't think the circumstances are special enough to allow this to go ahead. There are already other large, family homes available in nice areas."

Cllr Abid Hussain and panel chairman Councillor Shabir Hussain said they were in favour of the plans, arguing that they would be an improvement on the unattractive state of the land at the moment.

But Cllr Glen Miller said: "I think this new building would be intrusive. What is there now is horrible – I agree – but replacing it with something bigger and more intrusive is not the answer."

Councillors voted against the application by five votes to two.

Speaking after the decision, applicant David Abbott said: "As a young family moving to the area to make a permanent home we don't feel the house which has already been approved for this site will provide us with enough space.

"We are very disappointed, and we'll need to have a rethink."