SEPARATE plans to build a total of 25 new homes at the edge of Giggleswick have been turned down by Craven planners.

Councillors were recommended to approve the building of up to 12 properties off Raines Road and Brackenber Close, but to refuse nearby plans for up to 13 off Raines Road and Brackenber Close, both by Burley Developments.

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But, following strong representations from objectors, including Giggleswick Parish council, Craven District Council's planning committee refused both applications at its latest meeting.

Councillors were told by officers that while the building of 12 homes off Brackenber Close was considered acceptable because it was a rectangular site against a backdrop of bungalows, the slightly larger scheme was on an irregular site which would suffer visually with inadequate landscape screening.

James Ellis, for Burley Developments, said the developer intended to provide five, or more than 40 per cent, affordable homes in the scheme deemed acceptable by officers, even though it was likely the council was shortly to adopt a 30 per cent affordable policy in its emerging local plan. He also pointed out that the developments had raised no objections from the highways authority and no responses from both the neighbouring Forest of Bowland or Yorkshire Dales National Park.

But Margaret Airey, for Giggleswick Parish Council, said the council and local people strongly opposed both schemes on grounds of highways, visual impact, potential of flooding, and because the land was 'prime agricultural land' for Craven.

And resident of Brackenber Lane Derek Jordan said the sites were not included in the local plan for possible redevelopment and were opposed by a large number of people.

"These applications are opposed by Giggleswick Parish Council, by our ward councillor and by local residents, and I would urge you to oppose them," he said.

Ward councillor Richard Welch, in proposing the refusal of both sites, described a nearby seven-home development currently under construction by the same developer as a 'carbuncle'.

And he said the fact that neither the neighbouring Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority or the Forest of Bowland had made no response to the applications did not necessarily mean the authorities did not object.