A VACANT Green Belt building once used by a Christmas tree business can be converted into a home.

The planning application to convert the building, on land off Moor Lane in Menston, into a house was submitted by Rob Britton earlier this year.

Menston Parish Council had objected to the plan, saying it was inappropriate to develop a house on the Green Belt.

But at a meeting of Bradford Council’s Keighley and Shipley Planning Panel last Wednesday members voted to approve the plans.

Planning officer Martyn Burke told members that while Green Belt development would normally be blocked – this plan was just to convert an existing building.

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He said the development would only take up a section of the site, and many trees surrounding the building would be kept.

He added: “An exception to Green Belt policy is the re-use of existing buildings.”

The building was constructed in the 1980s, but has been vacant for many years.

Councillor Gordon Metcalf from Menston Parish Council told the meeting: “It is simply not a suitable location for this type of development. If this is approved it could lead to further applications for the development of Green Belt.”

Mr Burke said the house would not be a new building, with the existing building’s shell used and re-purposed.

Members voted to approve the plan.