A MAJOR housing developer of retirement homes has applied for planning permission to build 27 two-bedroom apartments in the grounds of Ilkley's historic Craiglands Hotel.

The hotel, on Cowpasture Road, was granted permission by Bradford Council last year to construct nine houses on the site of a car park, and develop a spa in the basement of the 19th Century-built former hydropathic establishment.

The development was part of a bid to pump new cash into the three star-rated hotel and develop new facilities.

Now McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd has applied for permission to build a four-and-a-half storey block of retirement apartments on the same plot.

McCarthy and Stone, which also built retirement housing development, Carnegie Court, on Springs Lane, over a decade ago, says the apartments will be age-exclusive for over-55s, and will provide much-needed accommodation for older people.

The company held a consultation session for Ilkley residents in March.

But a ward councillor says he will support residents who object to the plan, as an overdevelopment of the hotel's grounds, and the reduction in parking at the wedding and conference venue.

Councillor Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) said: "It's a great abuse of the site. It's a total overdevelopment, it's overdensity, it's even more dense than the previous nine houses."

He is concerned that the apartments could mean two cars per household, increasing pressure for parking, while removing existing parking in the hotel's grounds.

Coun Smith is also currently objecting to an application to vary a condition of the existing planning permission for a nine home development. The hotel has asked to lift a condition restricting the use of its planned spa facilities to hotel guests only.

Coun Smith is concerned that opening up the spa to more people will add to parking problems, and could change the character of the business.

He said: "Recently there were 750 visitors to the hotel at a weekend and carparks and streets around were over full even the bus could not get through on Crossbeck Road."

The new plan also includes the provision of new spa facilities in the basement of the hotel.

Planning agent, The Planning Bureau Ltd, says the residents' car park for the development would have 29 spaces, including an accessible space and two visitor spaces.

In a statement, The Planning Bureau said: "Careful consideration has been given to the nature of the site including the redevelopment of the vacant site, its relationship to its immediate surroundings and nearby conservation area, and the amenities of neighbouring occupiers. There is no doubt that a high quality development will make an effective use of this site and respond to its townscape.

"At the same time retirement apartments are a passive use, and an entirely sympathetic neighbour with extremely low levels of traffic generation in comparison to other potential housing uses of the site."

The plan is expected to be determined by Bradford Council.