PLANS to demolish a large Wrose house and build five new homes on its grounds have been approved.

Last year a planning application to demolish 78 Westfield Lane and replace it with five, four-bed houses, was submitted to Bradford Council by P Woodhead.

The plans had attracted 10 objections from people living nearby saying the homes would be an “overdevelopment” of the 0.17 hectare site, that it would increase traffic on Westfield Lane and that the existing house was a “local landmark.”

There were also 14 letters of support, with people claiming the homes would be a better use of the large plot rather than a single house.

Concerns over narrow access road lead to Silsden homes plans being refused

The site is next to an access road to the former Idle Hill Reservoir site.

A a meeting of Bradford Council's Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel on Wednesday, planning officer Martyn Burke said the development would “make more efficient use of previously developed land.”

Referring to concerns about the loss of the house, he added: “It is not listed, it is not in a conservation area, there are no planning reasons to refuse the demolition, especially when it would create more space for houses.”

Richard Smith, representing the applicant, said: “The property there is quite tired. The application will provide five good quality, sustainable homes.”

The committee then voted to approve the plans.