NEW homes and sporting facilities are set to be built in the grounds of a Wharfedale paper manufacturer.

Planners have approved - under defer and delegate powers - proposals to create nine houses at Weidmann Whiteley Limited's Pool Paper Mills site.

The scheme would see the properties built on an existing sports pitch - while a new pitch, and clubhouse, would be created on land to the south of the main mill buildings.

The company says the project would raise money that would be invested into the Pool-in-Wharfedale business to safeguard its future.

Local councillors, however, have expressed dismay at the loss of Green Belt land and fear it could set a dangerous precedent.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale), who sits on the South and West Plans Panel that made the decision, said: "I am extremely disappointed.

"Unfortunately I, the Parish Council and the residents that had concerns were on a hiding to nothing. In my view the panel did not fully understand what they were being asked to decide on and, when one member of the panel pointed out the business implications, it did not resonate.

"The only hope now is that Pool Parish Council will agree to refer the application to the Secretary of State so he can take an independent, unbiased view on the application.

"Hopefully, he will agree that the very special circumstances required for Green Belt development under the National Policy Planning Framework have not been met."

Pool Parish Council has also expressed disappointment and says it will discuss the decision - and its reaction to it - at its next meeting.

The parish council lodged one of 28 objections against the scheme. Its statement said: "The parish council believes the assumed benefits from the development do not outweigh the disadvantages which are: the loss of Green Belt to the development, the incremental development it could encourage, the impact on the villages already overcrowded road network, the lack of current amenities to support existing housing and the potential flooding problems that could arise."

Leeds City Council, however, also received 18 supportive comments. Inglewood Drive resident Paul Huby was one of a number of Otley residents who gave the scheme his backing.

He said: "Whiteleys is a significant employer within the area and with the company relocating the new football pitch with new, better facilities this can only be a good thing.

"The kids win and the monies gained by the company can be reinvested to secure the workforce's future."

The pitch and clubhouse would be used by Pool Juniors AFC, which currently uses the site's old cricket pitch.

Weidmann Whiteley was contacted by the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer but did not want to comment.

The report presented to the plans panel stated that: "This current application has been submitted to raise the capital required to invest in new machinery, as well as to invest in research and development in association with it.

"Without this investment the business cannot compete with modern paper mills."