PLANS to demolish disused industrial buildings in Silsden and replace them with housing have been approved.

It is proposed to flatten the buildings at Beckside Works, off St John's Street, and build seven homes.

Michael Ainsworth Design Partnership – which submitted the plans earlier this year – described the existing buildings, which are within a conservation area, as an "unsightly, derelict warehouse".

The housing would comprise three two-bed homes and four three-bed properties.

The application statement said: "The proposed development has significant social, economic and environmental benefits, redevelops a brownfield site, comprises the removal of a redundant and unsightly building within the conservation area and contributes to the council’s poor housing land supply."

A Bradford Council planning officer said: "The proposed development would see the sustainable use of previously-developed land that contributes to the council's housing land supply. This does have to be balanced against the loss of the employment site and the potential knock-on effect, since there are policies that seek to retain and promote land for economic use.

"In this case the long-term future use for employment purposes is limited due to the constraints of the site. Moreover there is no commercial activity at the site presently and it is unlikely that another commercial user would take on the site."