MP Paul Truswell has condemned a decision to allow the building of homes at a former retirement home for priests in Horsforth.

Mr Truswell, who is calling for a change in planning law to allow residents to appeal against controversial planning decisions, accused Leeds City Council of making a massive U-turn over plans to develop St Gabriels in Scotland Lane.

Councillors originally said they would refuse the joint Diocese of Leeds and Bellway Homes scheme for 22 homes at the site - including the conversion of the listed St Gabriels into three flats and 19 more in two blocks.

But at the last meeting of the Development Control Panel West, councillors approved the scheme after it was revealed reasons for refusal would not stand up at appeal.

Mr Truswell said: "I have joined people in opposing both the previous plan and the latest one. We took great comfort from the planning panel's indication at its June meeting that it was minded to reject the second application.

"But then to reverse this stance was a real body blow.

"The council may feel it has good reasons for its change of heart, but that does not prevent residents feeling cheated, suspicious and misled. The fact that the report was considered in private to protect the council's case at appeal on the other application has reinforced the feeling of unease.

"At present the only possible redress is a complaint to the Ombudsman, or the expense of seeking a judicial review through the courts. In any case, both of these avenues take time and the Ombudsman and courts cannot reverse the decision, only find that the process was flawed."

Mr Truswell has been calling for a third party right of appeal and recently secured a debate in Parliament about it.

"At present applicants can appeal if their application is refused, but communities can't appeal against the granting of planing permission. That's not fair."