A school near Keighley has won its fight to build houses to fund urgent repair work estimated at £514,000.

The first of two previously refused applications to build around five detached homes in the grounds of the independent Malsis School at Glusburn has been approved by Craven District Council’s planning committee. Councillors were told that the scheme, which will see repairs to the grade two listed Malsis Hall, lodge and iron railings, now had the support of English Heritage.

Evidence from heritage consultant Dr Jonathan Clark said the advantage of enabling developments was money would be used purely to fund repairs to a listed building..

A legal agreement between the school and the council will make sure money raised from the sale of the land will be used to fund repairs – and not to pay off any debts.