PLANS to build a house on a landlocked site next to an Ingleton car park have been thrown out following the strong objections of neighbours.

Craven District Council's planning committee went against officer advice to approve outline consent for the house, off Uppergate, and instead rejected it because of its impact on neighbouring cottages.

Councillors also struggled to accept the proposed three-bedroom house would need access over the council-owned car park.

Despite being told land ownership was not a matter for the planning committee, many thought it unreasonable to approve the plan without access in place first.

The committee also heard objections from residents and from Ingleton Parish Council that the proposed property would look out of place to neighbouring cottages, of between 200 and 300 years old, and featuring linear gardens.

Ward councillor Carl Lis (Cons) said it was an overdevelopment of the site, and failed to fit 'in any shape or form' in the conservation area.

He added: "It does beggar belief. I cannot understand why someone can apply for planning permission without first establishing if they can get access."

And he said he was concerned that the applicant Joan Harrison, having got permission, could the find access denied.

Development control manager Ian Swain said it was possible that a different department of the council in charge of the council's assets could refuse permission for the access, but that was nothing to do with the planning committee.

"The council, acting in its capacity as landowner, will or will not agree to that access, but that is further down the process," he said.

Cllr Lis said he continued to accept the rationale, but added that the proposed house would, anyway, represent an overdevelopment of the conservation area.

"I see no purpose whatsoever in this going ahead," he said, before moving the application be refused.

Cllr Stephen Place (Cons) agreed that the planned house 'worried him immensely' and that it would look out of place next to traditional West Craven cottages of between 200 and 300 years old.