A CENTRE of rugby union excellence now looks certain to be built in Bramhope.

Leeds planners have approved a scheme which would see a bigger, two storey clubhouse, 215 parking spaces and five new pitches created on West Park Leeds (formerly West Park Bramhope) RUFC's grounds on The Sycamores.

The club says the development, which was recommended for approval in July but deferred after ward councillors asked for more time, is crucial to its future.

But a residents' spokesman has described the plan as a 'grotesque monstrosity.'

Some 21 residents objected to it, criticising the clubhouse design and citing over-development of the Green Belt, traffic and nuisance problems.

Councillors Clive Fox and Barry Anderson (both Con, Adel and Wharfedale) also raised concerns.

But 40 letters of support were lodged and West Park Chairman Malcolm Kilvington told Leeds Plans Panel (West) last Thursday that the project would give sport across the area a boost.

Mr Kilvington also reiterated the club's intention to stay amateur. He said: "This scheme is to provide people in the area of the city with one of the best facilities around to promote and encourage amateur sport.

"We have a lease of 125 years on the Green Belt. Our sole intention is for that site to be used solely for sport.

"We know on Sundays we do have a high membership and when the grass is wet and people park there's a problem, hence the need for a large overflow car park.

"There will certainly not be a reduction in trees on the site, quite the opposite. As for the clubhouse, the actual footprint is not a great deal bigger than that of the existing one, the difference being it's (now) on two storeys.

"And the facilities in the clubhouse now are absolutely used to their full capacity."

Mr Kilvington added that weekday indoor training, including video coaching, would take place at the new centre. And he stressed that the main team from Leeds Tykes (a professional club that merged with West Park in 2003) who would play at Bramhope would be the development side, which consists of unpaid, emerging players.

But David Yates, speaking on behalf of The Sycamores' protesters, told the panel any development within the Green Belt was meant to be small and unobtrusive.

He said: "Otherwise it is considered inappropriate and harmful. Councillor Brian Coulson in July described this as a monstrosity - we couldn't agree more except to add that it's a grotesque monstrosity.

"The proposed development would result in astonishing increases in traffic flows and congestion. You have a duty of care to the public, please do not abandon or desert us, exercise your duty of care."

A Highways officer, however, said a traffic assessment suggested congestion would not be a major issue, although there would sometimes be a "local" problem at the A660/The Sycamores roundabout.

She said: "These will be during the odd hour and not at conventional peak times."

Speaking afterwards, Coun Fox said: "I think it's unfortunate that something of this size is to be allowed in a sensitive Green Belt location.

"It will now go to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and they'll have to decide that, while it clearly does run against planning policy, whether there are the "very special circumstances" needed to allow that.

"My view is they haven't demonstrated the justification for a development of this size. No-one would object to the present clubhouse being removed but the new one is not in the same location and I don't think it's design is sympathetic to its location, although some of that's driven by its functionality."

Coun Fox is also convinced that commercial reasons are behind the expansion. He said: "All of the amateur sides mentioned already play there, the extra activity that's driving the size of the new clubhouse will be from the professional side of things."

Panel member Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon), who abstained in the vote, said: "I think the clubhouse is far too big and to me it looks like it's being built that size for social reasons, to start making money from the clubhouse from social events which you can't blame the club for.

"But it's in a fairly secluded part of the world, and I can sympathise with the concerns of the residents."

The panel added conditions to the scheme so that a green travel plan, to encourage the use of public transport to and from the grounds, and a commitment to restrict the use and position of pitch floodlights, were included.

The plans now need to be approved by the ODPM.