Craven District Council’s planning committee has brought to an end a saga over Cowling’s village hall which remains unfinished.

It has agreed that the hall can be turned over to the people of Cowling in its current state and that its ownership can be transferred to Cowling Parish Council.

The committee’s decision overturns a planning obligation which required Skipton Properties to provide a completed village hall as part of its plans to build 31 houses on the old Acre Mill site in the village.

However, the hall has not been fitted out and has been empty for two years.

Councillor Ady Green, who represents Cowling, said: “Everyone’s so relieved.”

Parish council chairman Councillor Alan Perrow said the village hall was an ‘empty shell’.

He said between £216,000 and £300,000 was needed to bring it up to scratch.

But Mr Price said that, with the new hall turned over to the village, the management committee could apply for grants and money raised from the sale of the old hall would go towards the costs.

He said the site of the old hall had planning permission for three houses and should prove attractive to developers.