Councillors have thrown out controversial plans for an eco-home on the banks of a picturesque reservoir – claiming it would “look better in Canary Wharfe”.

The proposals for the glass-fronted home, which would have been located close to 19th-century terraced homes near Leeming Reservoir, Oxenhope , Keighley , were turned down yesterday by Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel.

Panel chairman Councillor Doreen Lee said: “I agree fully with Oxenhope Parish Council that this would look better in Canary Wharf.

“I think the design is totally wrong for the area.”

Steve Taylor had wanted to build the property off Denholme Road, as a home for him and his family.

He has previously said that Government policies favour sustainable development such as his planned eco-home.

A team of ecologists had assessed the site and had found no animal species protected by law, he said.

Speaking on his behalf at the meeting at Keighley Town Hall, planning consultant Jo Steel said the site was hard to maintain and had been targeted by fly-tippers.

He said the development would offer off-street parking and open up views across the land.

Mr Steel said the completed house and garage would only occupy about a tenth of the site.

However, Bradford Council officers recommended the plans be refused.

Planning officer Martyn Burke said the proposals had met with 42 objections and 24 letters of support.

He said the new house would harm the character and appearance of the Leeming Conservation Area and would lead to the loss of a key stretch of open space.

Objector Ken Aitken said the view across the reservoir towards the site was an iconic vista. “This is not a brownfield site,” he said.

“This is an open piece of land which is home to bats, hedgehogs, toads and other wildlife.”

Councillor Reg Hindley, of Oxenhope parish council, said the village’s traditional appearance was “19th century industrial”, but that open pieces of land such as this were an important part of the parish’s visual heritage.

The panel members voted unanimously to reject the proposals.