Planners have supported housing plans for part of the Silver Cross pram factory in Guiseley.

Councillors agreed to help the ailing company, which just last week was saved from extinction by a group of investors, by agreeing in principle to development on the site.

And, to help the company stay in Guiseley, councillors also gave the go ahead to a relaxation of the usual requirement for an element of low cost housing to be included in large scale housing schemes.

If approved, a mixture of 50 terraced and detached homes will be built on part of the Silver Cross works at the southern end of the site with the new streamlined company operating from the northern end.

Two terraces of homes will be built fronting onto Back Lane and two onto Otley Road. A new 70 space works car park will be built on Back Lane opposite Green Meadows School.

At a meeting of Leeds City Council's development control panel (West), chairman Councillor Jim McKenna said it was important to keep the world-famous pram maker in Leeds. And he urged councillors to work with the new management to come up with a plan that would enable Silver Cross to carry on making prams.

"Silver Cross is a world famous name and there is a great demand for these prams particularly the Heritage Range. It is important that we keep a name like this associated with Leeds and hopefully, this is a solution that is acceptable," said Coun McKenna.

Councillor Mike Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) welcomed the scheme, saying it was important for local jobs that everything was done to keep the factory open.

And Martin Sellens, chief planning officer, said negotiations with applicant Burley Developments had been going on right up until the last minute and the planning department was still in discussion over highways implications, landscaping and the provision of green space.

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