Otley'S riverside "renaissance" is on track after planners rubber-stamped a scheme to transform the Garnett's mill site.

The paper company and its landlords, Brick Holdings, have both expressed delight at gaining outline permission for a housing, office and hotel development.

But they are also quick to point out that the details of the plan are still to be hammered out - and will be shaped by ongoing consultation with the people of Otley.

Leeds Plans Panel (West) heard concerns about one of the proposed access routes to the 15 acre site from worried residents when it considered the scheme last week.

But the panel decided that "on balance" the project, which will open up the riverside to walkers, should be supported.

Speaking after the meeting, Garnett's Managing Director Cliff Barry said: "Clearly the outline planning consent is good news not just for us at our operational business, but for the town as a whole.

"The scheme as I understand things still has some way to go in terms of the final outcome.

"However from that which is being proposed it does rather appear that the town can look forward to an extremely prosperous future, not the least of which is the creation of approximately 300 new jobs when the development is concluded.

"This is an exciting time for the town and one that bodes well for the future."

More than 30 conditions, covering everything from decontamination plans, affordable housing provision and traffic and parking details will now have to be addressed through negotiations.

The proposed access to the new development is through two points - the major one from Pool Road, on the east, with a widened Mill Lane providing more limited access to a hotel, restaurant/bar and car park on the west.

But David Collins, representing 35 Manor Street residents, had urged the panel to think again.

He said: "Otley is a busy market town with heavy congestion and the junction with Bridge Street and Mill Lane is at choking point.

"Public access to the new site from Mill Lane will radically increase the traffic as ever larger number of tourists turn right against the traffic flow.

"We urge you instead to use a retractable bollard system at the Garnett's side of Mill Lane (for emergency vehicles and buses) with all other access coming from Pool Road."

Those views were echoed by some of the panel. Councillor Amanda Carter said: "Children in Otley do walk to school and they cross many roads. My concern is about putting a car park by the river. Visitors would have to come down Mill Lane and in the afternoon many children are coming home from school that way. That could be dangerous."

A spokesman for Otley Riverside Holdings, however, focused on the wider benefits of the scheme.

"This will have an impact on the rest of the waterfront and act as a catalyst for the rest of the community," he said.

"I think this will reinforce the character of Otley as a standalone market town, rather than just becoming a dormitory of Leeds."

Richard Whitehorn, Property Consult-ant for Brick Holdings, said: "We're very pleased that it's gone through but this is the beginning of the process not the end.

"It will take a considerable time to get the detail together, there are a lot of conditions to work through.

"I wouldn't have thought any detailed application would be likely to go in for at least six, probably nine, months."