AN "exciting and interesting" design for three houses at Cawder Green, Skipton, has been given the go-ahead.

Councillors were divided over the application for the houses, which will be built on the site of two former shops and will incorporate eco-friendly timber cladding.

Some were in favour of more traditional materials and last month the committee asked the architects, Bowman Riley Partnership, to reconsider the plans. However it decided to keep with its original design.

Ward representative Coun Robert Heseltine said residents on the estate were opposed to the plans, but no letters had been received by the council.

Coun Richard Welch said it would look like a garden shed and "would stick out like a sore thumb".

Coun John Alderson added: "It doesn't look right as far as the area is concerned. I would be totally against that type of cladding in that type of area."

Further opposition came from Coun Paul English who was concerned about the loss of amenities.

But Coun Chris Knowles-Fitton welcomed what he called an "innovative idea".

"I think it is very attractive. I have a high regard for the architects and they have been so intent in sticking to their guns it shows how important they think this is as a future development for this part of the country," he said.

He was backed by Coun Ken Hart who called the design "a step forward".

Chairman Coun David Ireton agreed. He said: "We have got to move forward in terms of design and materials. It is quite an exciting design. There is everything on that estate in terms of pebble dash, smooth rendered, and stone. There has been a lot of money spent on the estate, and I don't feel that if this goes ahead, that it will detract from that."

The vote was split, with four against the plans, and five in favour. A condition was added that the cladding had a natural finish.