Controversial plans to expand an Eldwick kitchen business have been approved.

The application, for change of use from agricultural buildings at Royston Fold Farm, Saltaire Road, Eldwick, to storage for the Blue Gem Estates company, angered local residents.

The proposal involves altering a farm building into storage and offices which would be used for the applicant's four separate development companies and kitchen and domestic furniture business. It will employ eight full-time and two part-time staff.

At a planning meeting at Shipley Town Hall yesterday, objectors spoke out against the proposals.

But John Steel, who is representing Blue Gem owners Gordon Halton and David Hirst, said the business - based at Heights Lane, Eldwick, and which makes bespoke kitchen cabinets - needed the space to expand and would boost the local economy.

After the meeting Mr Steel said his clients were delighted to have been granted planning permission and would fully comply with Shipley planning panel's range of conditions.

Mr Steel said there was high demand for the products and the new site would allow extra staff.

He said that green belt issues were not affected because smaller buildings would be removed and the area would be tidied up with new stone walls.

But Graham Franz, vice-president of Eldwick Village Society, said residents felt as if they were being ignored.

Mr Franz said: "I feel that conversion to business use may ultimately give way to permission for housing."

Saltaire Road was a popular route for walkers and children and an area of outstanding natural beauty which would be destroyed by the development, he added.

Though planning permission was granted, it came with strict conditions.

No more than ten staff will be employed at the premises and no storage will be allowed outside the building.

Councillor Phil Thornton said: "Another condition has been added and that is that planning permission for housing on the site cannot be submitted."