A £1.5 million sheltered housing complex in Ilkley dogged by objections could be built by the end of next year.

Since the plans were revealed in August to replace Station Garage in Springs Lane with the complex there have been worries about parking and traffic in the area.

Councillors had earlier deferred a decision on the plan to build the complex on the site of the Rhydding Motor Company, Station Garage, Springs Lane, for discussions on car parking and the materials used in the new building's construction. But the latest assurances from representatives of the developers led to the scheme being approved by the Keighley area planning sub-committee.

Members viewed a sample of the materials which will be used in the four-storey complex and heard assurances that car parking will be adequate.

Sub-committee chairman Councillor John Cope (Lab, Worth Valley) said: "There was some concern whether the materials would be appropriate to Ilkley but they produced a panel and we accepted that, and we accepted the applicant's point about cars and parking."

The flats complex will contain 27 one-bedroom flats and 23 two-bedroom flats for people over 60 only.

Station Garage owner Tim Webster said he was pleased that the plan had been approved and said he would be meeting with The Cheshire-based specialist developers McCarthy and Stone to work out a timetable for demolition of the garage and construction of the new flats to begin.

"It was important to get it sorted. Common sense has prevailed and we can now get on with going forward again," said Mr Webster. "I have not met anybody who has said it won't be an improvement. The garage was looking old and tired."

A spokesman for the developer said that research had shown a need for tailor-made accommodation for the over 60s in Ilkley.

Parish Councillors had objected to the plan but Ilkley Civic Society supported it as an attractive addition to the townscape.

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