A COUPLE has been given planning permission to extend their home in one of Ilkley's most exclusive neighbourhoods - almost two years after first applying.

Clive Brook and his partner Kim Dobson bought 108 Curly Hill, Middleton in December 2000.

They immediately applied for planning permission to create extra space for bedroooms for their two children, Jessica and Kodie.

But their planning application to increase the height of the roof and extend the garage was turned down, first by the Keighley area planning panel then by a Department of the Environment planning inspector after an public inquiry.

Undaunted, the couple submitted another planning application for a less ambitious extension to the roof, raising it just more than a metre, leaving enough space for bedrooms to be constructed on the first floor. This would extend the property by about 25 per cent.

Despite planning officers recommending that the plan should be approved, it was again rejected by the Keighley area planning panel.

Mr Brook appealed again after rounding angrily on the planning panel.

He said: "It makes a mockery of the planning system.

"The planning officer and Ilkley Parish Council had recommended approval and I had 23 letters of support.

"In the last 18 months there have been four extensions similar or larger which have been granted in Curly Hill."

But planning panel chairman Councillor Chris Greaves (Con - Rombalds) defended the decision to refuse planning permission on the grounds that it would be a disproportionate addition to the property and have an adverse effect on the visual character of an area adjoining what is known as a Special Landscape Area.

Mr Brooks complained to the council saying: "We are at a loss to understand why the planning committee rejected the application."

Last week Mr Brooks found out that the extension could go-ahead after the Department of the Environment inspector allowed his appeal.

Although he said he was very pleased with the inspector's decision he said he wished that the planning wrangle could have been sorted out a lot earlier.

"We are very pleased but it has been a lot of messing about for nothing," said Mr Brook.

After reading the reasons behind the decision, Coun Greaves said the inspector seemed to think that it did not matter that the extension would make a difference to the area.

He also said that the inspector seemed to think the extended roof would not be visible for most of the year because of foliage, but this did not take into account that trees were only covered in leaves for one season only.

"But there is nothing we can do, it is the inspector's decision. Local residents and local elected members are being overruled by an un-elected and uncountable central government inspector," said Coun Greaves.

Mr Brook said that work on the extension could start in about a fortnight and should be competed around November.