DEVELOPERS believe they have come up with a solution to a controversial planning development in Skipton.

Initial plans to turn the building formerly occupied by Northern Costume Hire on Raikes Road into six homes and two integral garages sparked objections from nearby residents and Skipton Civic Society.

Craven District Council received 19 letters of objection from residents living in the Primrose Hill, Park Street and Raikes Road area who all referred to the existing congestion difficulties caused by lack of car parking spaces and turning space on the steep, narrow streets.

The civic society agreed, saying the extra homes would create an "horrific" parking situation in an area already straining under the weight of residents' and workers' cars.

The council subsequently turned down the application when it went before a planning committee meeting in May 2004.

The developers, Norwood Homes, appealed against the decision and a planning inspector upheld the appeal, saying that concerns about parking and access were not a reason for refusal.

But building work never went ahead and now a fresh application has been submitted by Thirsk-based Sullivan Group.

Instead of six homes, it wants to create nine smaller apartments in the building, which was a former gymnasium.

It says eight will be one bed units and one will have two bedrooms. No parking spaces will be provided as part of the proposal.

In a letter to the council's planning department Ben Farrer, from York-based Fining Associates - agents for the developers - said: "The scheme now provides eight one bedroom units and one two bedroom unit.

"I understand from the appeal details that the scheme was mainly refused on the issue of parking.

"As some of the units are approved at a large size, three bedrooms, potentially four or five bedrooms in some cases, I can appreciate that there is likely to be some impact on the traffic in the area.

"If we were successful in providing smaller units these would be more likely to appeal to first time buyers or the more mature single or retired person.

"Often these people would have no use for a car as they are within walking distance of the town centre.

"We feel the smaller units would be more beneficial to the area and reduce the parking impact.

"In addition to this I understand the area is due to undergo a residential parking scheme and that many of the vehicles parked in the area are those belonging to workers in the town.

"The residents' permits would surely reduce the impact further."

Gwynne Walters, from the civic society, said the group would be looking at the plans on Tuesday.

She said the appeal inspector had referred in his decision to a certain amount of parking for residents.

The new applicants do not intend to provide any parking on the site and Mrs Walters believes this could possibly be grounds for the council rejecting the scheme.

Skipton Town Council will also look at the plans in the near future.