RETROSPECTIVE plans to install an outbuilding in a Haworth bar have been approved by Bradford Council.

The timber outbuilding had been constructed in the car park area of the Treehouse Bar without planning permission, leading to Treehouse Bars LTD submitting a retrospective application for the work.

The company also submitted retrospective plans for timber cladding on the front of the building, a former restaurant, that had also been installed without permission.

The bar is near the Haworth Conservation Area, meaning any changes to buildings should undergo extra scrutiny.

Both applications have now been approved by planning officers.

Conservation Officer Jon Ackroyd had raised concerns about the outbuilding, saying: "The majority of buildings in The Brow are traditionally constructed in stone and present a cohesive appearance and townscape.

New £1 million bar and food outlet opening at Haworth

"The colour of finish and appearance of this structure is somewhat at odds with that. The structure is somewhat discordant in the setting of the conservation area."

He described the cladding to the front of the building as "vividly coloured and prominent" and said it "results in the host property being a less cohesive component in the setting of the conservation area."

However, planning officers dismissed these concerns, saying: "The shelter is of a scale and size that means it does not have a strong presence in the conservation area, nor is it detrimental to it. The comments of the Conservation Officer are noted, however it is not agreed that the shelter results in a harm to the heritage value of the conservation area."

Referring to the cladding, they said: "The timber cladding adds a new material that is not, on the whole, characteristic of the wider area. However, the subject building is not especially prominent when viewed from the conservation area."