A NEW housing development is set to give a facelift to a section of canal front in Skipton.

The imminent demolition of the old Craven Herald printing hall, to the rear of High Street, will make way for a row of three-bedroom cottages.

There is a chance that building work could be delayed should any historic finds be uncovered once the old building comes down.

But archaeologists aren't very hopeful, as the ground was heavily disturbed when the press hall was built in the 1950s.

Work has begun on stripping out the old building, and when it is razed to ground level, expert archaeologist Conrad Von-Kirke will keep a 'watching brief' on the site in case the diggers overturn anything exciting.

But if the ground doesn't unlock any gems from the past, local builders Cotterill and Kimberly will start their new development.

Jim Cotterill told the Herald: 'We will be digging trenches for the new foundations in the next few weeks, when we will be calling Conrad to keep his watching brief for three days.

'But once the building work gets under way we will be constructing seven very pleasant three-bedroom cottages which will extend down to the canal.'

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