SEVEN new flats will be built in Grassington on a former garage site and three of the units will be sold to local people only.

Planning approval was given by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planning committee on Monday despite it resulting in the loss of an employment site in the village.

The Station Road scheme will involve the demolition of the current workshop and first floor flat. In its place two one-bedroom flats and five two-bedroom flats will be built.

Recommending approval, authority member John Sayer told members that this was the second garage site which had come before the committee to be converted into housing.

He suggested that the committee was likely to see the closure of even more garages because of the growing computerisation of cars.

"It is sad. I have had vehicles repaired there but it is a fact of life. The people of Grassington will be pleased. It has been an eyesore for quite a long time," he said.

The proposal is to demolish all of the existing buildings on the site and in their place erect a new building. The building would provide seven residential units over three floors.

The ground floor, which would be partially set below pavement level, would accommodate two single bedroom residential units. There will also be an internal car parking area for nine vehicles.

On the first floor three two bedroom units will be built around a central stairwell and lift shaft. The second floor will accommodate two two bedroom units.

Although the plan contravenes planning policies relating to the loss of an employment site, planning officer Simon Chapman told the committee that the applicant had provided evidence that a previous marketing exercise had been unsuccessful.

Mr Chapman's report highlighted that "it is considered that it is unlikely that the site would be redeveloped for an employment generating use".

Because the site is currently in disrepair - described as a "poor advert for a village of traditional character" by Mr Chapman - it is hoped that the new development will add to the character of the village.

Cecil Hammond also voiced his support for the development.

"This building has been an eyesore at the entrance to Grassington for a long, long time. It is a huge planning gain."

More than 150 people from Grassington signed a petition in support of the application.

In a letter to the national park, organiser Bunty Leder said: "As this site has been derelict since 1998 there is very strong support for development to take place as soon as possible."

The committee voted unanimously to approve the scheme.

o A planning application to divide a listed house into two on Chapel Street, Grassington, was turned down by the planning committee.

The applicant explained that she wanted to divide the property to provide a home for her daughter and her family.

John Sayer supported the scheme. He said that providing a home for a local family seemed to be a good reason for going against officer recommendation.

Committee member Nancy Stedman said: "It is a practical solution." However she said that in the long term this division could lead to problems.

Wilf Fenten said that this scheme by itself would not be incongruous, but if other houses down the street all did the same it would completely alter the layout of the street.

The application was refused unanimously by the committee.