COUNCILLORS have praised a planning inspector for turning down two proposed greenfield developments in Otley.

The decisions relate to plans to build five homes on a field south of Bradford Road, on the Chevin side, and to convert a barn south of the A660 Ilkley Road.

Leeds City Council had refused permission for both, and in the past week Planning Inspector David Cullingford has upheld the authority's rulings by dismissing the appeals.

Mr Cullingford concluded the Bradford Road scheme would "spoil the street scene and seriously impair the peace and prospect neighbouring residents might reasonably expect to enjoy".

Cllr Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: "This is the second piece of good news for Otley this week, following the rejection of a housing proposal in the greenbelt south of Ilkley Road.

"The Inspector has helped protect this important green field site on the Chevin, and it will serve as a precedent to help us protect a number of other green field and greenbelt sites in Otley, which are currently under threat."

The Ilkley Road scheme would have seen a barn on greenbelt land extended and converted to create a four-bedroom home and a separate agricultural storage building.

But the Inspector ruled against it on the grounds "the proposal would constitute inappropriate development within the greenbelt, largely because it would unacceptably diminish the openness of the place".

Cllr Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: "Fortunately, the Planning Inspectorate is standing up to developers who want to destroy our greenbelt.

"This week's decisions send a clear message to developers that Otley's greenbelt is off limits."