NATIONAL Park Authority planners have backtracked on a decision to refuse an application to build houses on Long Preston's former auction mart site.

At a meeting at Bolton Abbey on Tuesday, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee agreed the application should be approved, despite refusing the scheme for 16 houses in December last year.

Back then members argued that there were too many houses on the site, the development was not sympathetic to the rest of the village and expressed concern over the increase in traffic and the village water supply.

Nine of the homes were to be sold as sheltered housing with an agreement that at least one resident in each should be over 55.

Occupiers of the remaining seven private houses were to be given a bicycle - a novel move by developers to try and stop further traffic congestion in the village.

Because the planning application was refused against officer recommendation, it is the authority's policy that it has to be voted on again at a future meeting.

Mark Williams, senior area planning officer, warned members on Tuesday that if they did not sway from their original position, it was likely the developers would appeal.

He urged members to consider the reasons for refusal once again and said in his opinion the reasons were not "robust" enough to stand alone.

In a report to the committee, he added: "Of the four main grounds for refusal recorded, it is considered that only two are sustainable; the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the inadequate visibility and the implications for road safety.

"Concern over the density of housing, its unsympathetic design and urban appearance would be covered in the first reason. The issue of water supply could be adequately dealt with by legal agreement."

The report added that the developers had agreed to implement a number of traffic calming solutions in the village.

It was suggested members could ask for the developers to sign a legal agreement to ensure the traffic calming measures were introduced.

These would include extending ghost island carriageway markings near the pelican crossing and at the junction of Main Street, installing pedestrian refuge islands within these markings and renewing existing markings.

The legal agreement could also extend to the provision of a bus shelter, bicycles for occupiers of the seven private dwellings and the lowering of a garden wall within the adjoining property to one metre in height.

However, National Park member Wilf Fenten said he stood by his remarks made when the application was initially refused, commenting that the proposed development did nothing to enhance the Long Preston Conservation Area.

And he felt that the age restriction and offer of a bicycle would do nothing to reduce traffic movements in the village and improve the safety of access to the site.

However, member John Blackie said there was no doubt the decision to refuse the application would be tested on appeal and that to turn down the scheme was the "wrong stance" to take.

"This one is so obviously right for the community," he told the meeting.

Mr Blackie agreed the reasons for refusal were not robust enough to stand up at appeal and said the highway concerns had been addressed by the proposed traffic calming measures.

He moved approval of the application and was backed by a majority of members.