The dash to convert former industrial and commercial buildings into homes, especially in popular residential areas such as Baildon, is threatening small firms, says one businessman.

Antique furniture seller and restorer Richard Parker is having to move out of his mill-based workshop after the building was bought by property developers.

Mr Parker, who has run Baildon Furniture for seven years at Spring Mills in Otley Road, has to quit his showroom and workshop at the end of March.

Despite an exhaustive search of Baildon and many neighbouring areas, it had been impossible to find a suitable alternative building, he said.

"Everywhere around here is being converted into flats," said Mr Parker. "There are two schools being knocked down and then converted as well as a pub and Lower Holme Mills nearby, which is now empty, is also becoming flats.

"Every piece of property which is being sold is being converted, even a garage. I've been looking further afield - Guiseley, Batley and Otley. I've been looking for five months for somewhere that's suitable."

Mr Parker, who has been in the antiques business for a quarter of a century, employs four people at his site.

He said that over the years he had built up a solid local customer base and was reluctant to move to other areas without any passing trade.

"People are either hanging on to their properties or they are too expensive and if they do come up for sale they get bought up by the property developers.

"It seems that small units for small businesses are hard to find."

Mr Parker said a council official had called and although he had said the town had needed small businesses such as his he had not been able to help.

"Everything in Baildon is being developed into houses and flats. Effectively it will become one big housing estate. A lot of customers who come in are sad that we're going.

"Because we're on the main road we've sold to people from London and Newcastle who have driven past."