A 144-home scheme branded the "wrong development in the wrong place' has been turned down at appeal.

Developers wanted to revitalise a former Horsforth mill which had stood empty since 2000, leaving it open to vandalism, theft and occupation by travellers.

But Leeds City Council had rejected the scheme, arguing that the site Riverside Mill site, on Low Hall Road, was not suitable for a large housing development.

The scheme also attracted criticism from local people and councillors who said that it would be in an isolated position and would create traffic problems on the already busy ring road.

MP Paul Truswell was at the forefront of opposition to the development proposed by Horsforth Riverside LLP.

The scheme was the subject of an appeal last year, but it has now been dismissed by the inspector, Alison Lea. In her decision she says the main issues are the appropriateness of the site for the development and whether it would be prejudicial to highway safety.

The 7.7 hectare site, which includes the Riverside Mill complex, is access from Low Hall Road and Calverley Lane, which link to the Leeds Ring Road.

Although it is not immediately close to shops, schools or other local facilities the developers argued that it would be possible to walk to a number of facilities which were within 2km of the appeal site.

But Ms Lea said the various routes were either difficult under foot and overgrown, or along a lane with no pavement or street lighting.

She said: "I walked a number of the suggested routes on my site visit and in my view it is extremely unlikely that any of the routes would be used on a regular basis to access local facilities and services."

And despite the fact that the it would be planned to run a mini-bus from the site Ms Lea said the site would still not be a sustainable location.

She said the signals proposed for the junction would be unsafe and unacceptable, and she agreed with the council's argument that large vehicles might be unable to negotiate the bend into the site.

She said: "The appellant has referred to a number of benefits which would be brought about if planning permission was granted, including the provision of affordable housing, and a contribution towards improvement to the riverside area, which have been secured by an undertaking dated December 18 and made under Section 106 of the Act. However, these do not outweigh my conclusions on the main issues."

Ends.