Plans to turn a derelict shop in Bingley into a traditional ale and wine house have been approved - despite planning officers recommendations for refusal.

The move to refurbish the former Waremart building in Main Street into a J D Wetherspoon pub was given the go-ahead at the Shipley Area Planning Panel meeting.

Last November Bradford Council refused the Centre of Life Church's application to turn the building into a church. In a report to November's meeting of the Shipley Area Planning Sub-committee, officers recommended the church application should be rejected, saying it was contrary to national and local shopping policy and harmful to the vitality and viability of Bingley as a shopping centre.

J D Wetherspoon's application was also recommended for refusal by officers on similar grounds but councillors voted five to three in favour of planning permission.

Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East), who voted in favour of the decision, said: "It was a very balanced decision and there were issues for and against. The committee has decided that a unit which offered this facility would be better than an empty unit and hopefully it will continue the regeneration of the town."

The company wants to spend £800,000 transforming the building - a former Kwik Save supermarket - into a pub employing 25 full and part-time workers. Special characteristics of the pub include an extensive no-smoking area, no music and quiet corners with books.

Eddie Gershon, spokesman for J D Wetherspoon, said: "We are very pleased that planning permission has been granted. This is only the first part of converting the building into a pub and we will now be looking at applying for a drinks licence."

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