Residents are celebrating the end of a nine-year battle after a public inquiry rejected plans to convert an old barn into a house.

The nine-year battle to gain planning permission on land next to Burnside Mill, Cockshott Fold, Addingham, has ended.

A public inquiry ruled that overlooking and noise created from the driveway and the alterations to the barn would be such that it would be harmful to the village green space and the residents of Beckside Close.

The developers' intention had been to extend the barn and transform it into suitable living accommodation. The houses on Beckside Close are at a lower level to the north of the barn and residents had feared that the move would dominate their properties and they would lose their privacy.

The inspector's report claimed that the driveway would dominate the gardens in Beckside Close and that screening by fences, walls or planting would not be a solution to the problem as it would add to the oppressive effects upon the homes.

It noted that the proposed driveway of the barn conversion would run close to the rear gardens of neighbours, causing intrusion and.

Both Beckside Close residents and Michael Allison, of Allison and Macrae Architects, who represented the applicant, Mr Whittaker, had their views heard at a public inquiry at Ilkley Town Hall in January.

The final decision to dismiss the scheme was announced by a Secretary of State Inspector last week.

The daughter of one of the affected Beckside Close residents, Gillian Farthing, of Bellevue, Ilkley, said: "We are very pleased at the decision - it was what we wanted.

"We were very pleased the inquiry took so much notice of the residents and the fact that they would have lost their privacy.

"I think this is finally the end of it, I don't think the developer will be able to take it to the High Court.

"We are now going to celebrate. One of the residents, Mrs Driver, has even bought a bottle of champagne for the occasion."

A public inquiry was held after planning permission was refused by Bradford Council in February, 2001.

The resubmitted plans, which have been dismissed, showed the proposed extension to be smaller than the original plans which were refused by the council.

Addingham Parish Council also opposed the proposal and welcomed the decision.

The Chairman of Addingham Parish Council, Gordon Campbell said: "The people who spoke on behalf of Beckside Close did really well. The inspector took her time and listened to everybody. We had a good shot at it, it was very fair and we won!"