A controversial animal rendering plant has been sent back to the drawing board over its extension plans.

But it has partly succeeded in winning more freedom from Bradford Council scrutiny.

Residents have long been complaining about smells from Omega Proteins Ltd, based at Erlings Works on green belt land between Thornton and Denholme.

The firm had applied to extend an odour-busting piece of kit called a bio-filter. The move was backed by the Council’s environmental health team, who said the current bio-filters weren’t effective enough.

But local pressure group Stop Omega Stink still wasn’t happy, saying there were other ways the firm could control the smell without the need for such a large extension.

At a meeting of the regulatory and appeals committee yesterday, group spokesman Lynette Cadamarteri said: “It is not acceptable to keep punching holes in the green belt.”

But agent Graham Bolton said the impact on the green belt was “a matter of subjectivity” and said planning officers had used zoom lenses when taking photos of the site.

The concrete used for the 19.6m by 20m extension would also be coloured green to lessen its impact, the meeting heard.

The committee deferred the plan, asking Omega Proteins to provide more information about the bio-filter and any alternatives it could use.

Omega Proteins had also applied to lift a rule which meant it couldn’t introduce any new plant or machinery, either inside or outside its buildings, without permission from the Council.

The committee agreed to remove a restriction on what the firm could do inside its buildings, but strengthened the restriction to the outside by adding two areas where outside storage would be banned.

The committee also approved outline plans to build 27 homes on land at Shipley Golf Club, on Beckfoot Lane, despite concerns the patch of land in question was being used as an overflow car park and its loss could force visitors to park on the road.

Coun Imran Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: “What we are talking about is the luxury of an overflow car park, which they are not obligated to provide.”

A spokesman for the club said another area of the site could be used for parking instead.