A controversial animal rendering plant has been given planning permission to build a new boiler house despite having been accused of “taking the mickey” out of planners by repeatedly flouting their rules.

But Omega Proteins, which runs the plant near Denholme, hit back by raising the possibility of a court battle over what it claims are heavy-handed restrictions to its operations.

The firm had applied to build the boiler house at its site, on green belt land off Half Acre Road.

A planning meeting heard the application was partly retrospective, because the boiler itself has been on site for up to a year despite a long-standing restriction which states that the company could not place any new machinery on its site without Bradford Council’s permission.

At the Regulatory and Appeals Committee yesterday, Councillor Jackie Whiteley (Con, Wharfedale) said: “They’re taking the mickey.”

Time after time, the company had built first, then sought permission later, she said, and asked at what point the Council would draw the line.

But legal advisors said the panel had to consider the plan on its merits, regardless of whether work had started, and planning officers said the small metal structure housing the boiler would have little impact on the green belt.

Graham Bolton, agent for Omega Proteins, said the boiler was not yet in use. He disputed that bringing the boiler on site had broken any rules, saying Omega Proteins had a different understanding of the restriction.

Mr Bolton said while the restriction had been in place since 1999, the Council’s latest interpretation was so restrictive, it meant the firm could not even place new machinery inside its buildings without consent.

He said: “I personally think that it will end up in the courts because it’s totally new.”

Planning officers told the panel that the number of heavy goods vehicles visiting the site was also restricted and was being closely monitored.

The panel heard that concerns over smells, among other matters, would be addressed at a separate Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.