PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a former sawmill in Addingham to be converted into an apartment block.

The listed building, at Cross End, was built in 1802, and has been used as a sawmill since the mid-19th century.

Now a plan to convert it into six apartments, alongside three new houses and garages, has been approved under delegated powers.

But planners - on the insistence of the village's parish council and civic society - have said developers must reinstate the mill pond and reopen a footpath leading from the mill to the centre of the village which has been blocked for many years.

"We are particularly pleased that they have laid down the conditions that the mill pond should be reinstated because that's something we have wanted for a long time," said Addingham Civic Society member Don Barrett.

"There are very few areas of still water in the locality. The pond has been dried out and it's started to change into a copse rather than a pond. There were rumours that the water supply had been deliberately blocked off. It's possibly just the water supply was silted up.

"But it was a nice area and it still could be. Being just across the road from the school we'd hope that the school children benefit. You get different kinds of wildlife in a pond. It remains to be seen exactly how it will be renovated - we will be keeping a very close eye on things when work commences."

The reopening of the footpath - from Bolton Road to Main Street - has also been welcomed by villagers.

"It was blocked off by the sawmill some years ago," said Mr Barrett. "We obviously wanted that reinstated, primarily so that it will be used as a footpath again and that it will be a nice quiet back area for the village. It will be great to have this shortcut from Aynholme to Town Gate open again."

Mr Barrett said the civic society was also pleased that the buildings which stand outside the mill will be knocked down when work begins on the site. "The fact that it means another business going is sad," he said. "But at the same time the old building has been partly obscured by the outbuildings. From an architectural point of view it may well be a benefit."

Gordon Campbell, chairman of the parish council, said the plan to convert the mill into apartments had not been a particularly contentious one. "That was not really the concern at the time," he said. "We were more worried about the plan for housing on the field behind the sawmill.

"But as a group we insisted that these two natural villages assets - the pond and the footpath - were returned to their former state and now we have got it in writing we are delighted."

A plan to build around 75 houses on a field - known as The Acres - behind the sawmill was withdrawn after massive opposition from the village. The sawmill site itself has now been put up for sale by owners William Brear and Sons.