The owner of a disused care home in Wilsden has welcomed the decision of a Council planning panel to allow its demolition.

Members of Shipley Area Planning Panel had been advised to refuse planning permission for the demolition of the old Laurel Bank care home to make way for seven town houses, but owner and developer Stephen Walkden, of Victorguard Care, said “common sense” had led to the plans being approved yesterday.

The Main Street home, which has been empty since Laurel Bank moved to new premises in May last year, has become a target for thieves and vandals, the planning meeting at Shipley Town Hall was told.

Mr Walkden said: “A big thank you to all the residents of Wilsden for their help. I would like to thank the planning panel for their common sense.

“We are very pleased. If they hadn’t approved it, it would have sat there another few years, probably until it got burned down.

“We are hoping to crack on with it now.”

The application for planning permission had been recommended for refusal by Bradford Council’s planning department on the grounds that “the existing house and its landscape are considered to make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of Wilsden Conservation Area”.

The approval, which was given after panel members visited the site of the care home yesterday, is subject to conditions which will be looked at by planning officers. It has also been welcomed by Wilsden Parish Council, which was in favour of the proposals.

Clerk to the Parish Council Barbara Thompson said: “The Council is highly delighted. Common sense has prevailed and the village will now get something that the majority of the villagers are happy with.”