Residents have lost their fight to stop a luxury flats development which they claim will create traffic bedlam.

Oakapple Homes will now complete a £2 million scheme at Apperley Bridge which will provide prestige apartments priced between £80,000 and £150,000.

The company say plans for the new Apperley Bridge railway station with links to Leeds and Bradford make it the ideal position for homes.

Oakapple has already begun converting the former schoolhouse at Apperley Lane into nine apartments.

Now Bradford area planning panel has given the developers permission to pull down an existing building nearby which contains flats and garages.

The site at Devon Lodge and Hillcrest, Apperley Lane, is in the Green Belt and designated as a special landscape area.

Today Oakapple managing director David Ratcliffe said he was delighted with the decision and ready to start work.

He said the firm had reduced the number of apartments from 12 to nine and would undertake work to improve access at the junction of Apperley Lane and Little Park.

Mr Ratcliffe added: "The existing buildings are run down, tatty and neglected."

Residents sent objections to Bradford Council protesting about development in the Green Belt, increased traffic and a dangerous junction.

But officers said the development would not spoil the openness of the Green Belt and the existing building which would be demolished was the same height as the new one proposed by the developers.