CITY councillors are to discuss the future plans of a famous Guiseley company which is controversially looking to sell its land for housing.

Greenwoods Menswear has submitted an outline planning application for about 50 homes on the edge of the green belt off Ings Lane, which has met with widespread objection from local residents.

The company, which dates back to 1860, plans to relocate its warehouse and distribution centre to South Leeds to get better access to the motorway network. It also proposes to relocate the current office facilities, which no longer meet the operational requirements of the firm, to another site within the Guiseley, Yeadon or Horsforth area.

The form claims it is necessary to sell the existing Otley Road site to meet the costs of relocating and rationalising the national chain of shops.

In a report considered by city councillors at Tuesday's planning committee. Greenwoods stressed the job retention aspect of their application and said their future plans could include increasing the workforce.

Councillor Mike Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) welcomed the opportunity to visit to the site. He added: "It is an important site and given the recent history surrounding the nearby Silver Cross site, I welcome the chance to visit it and hear what the company has to say."

Planners have received 55 letters of objection on the grounds that the scheme would destroy historic woodland and would also affect trees that have tree preservation orders on them.

l Other decisions made by councillors at the meeting include reluctantly approving plans for a detached industrial unit with two-storey offices at Cemetery Road, Yeadon following concerns about access; deferring a decision on plans for two blocks each of six one- bedroom flats at Kerry Garth in Horsforth to look at parking issues; Councillor Phil Coyne objected to a four-bedroom detached house off Ings Lane, Otley, claiming it would be too dominant.