HOUSING is set to replace a new Sainsbury's store as part of plans to build a new business park on the outskirts of Skipton.

Changes to the proposed Wyvern Park scheme in South Skipton - between Waltonwrays Cemetery and Sandylands Sports Centre - are one of the factors behind a delay in the hoped-for completion of the Craven Local Development Plan.

The scheme, on 38 acres of land between Waltonwrays Cemetery and Sandylands Sports Centre, was turned down last year following a negative retail assessment report and because of its impact on the cemetery.

Developer, Henry Boot, is now in discussions with Craven planners on a new application, which will see the business park remain, but the supermarket, hotel and restaurant replaced with 160 new homes.

The proposed Craven Local Development Plan has also seen a larger number than expected responses to the consultation from public and statutory consultees.

It had been hoped that the plan would have been with the Planning Inspectorate now ahead of approval, but additional work has meant it is unlikely to be adopted for at least another year.

David Smurthwaite, strategic manager, Craven District Council, said officers were also having to respond to comments raised during the consultation by consultees, including English Heritage and North Yorkshire County Council.

He stressed though that although the plan would take several more months before completion, it gained weight the further it progressed.

"It is not an all or nothing," he said.

It was hoped additional required evidence would be in place by Easter and that the draft plan would be presented to full council in September.

The draft could then be with the Planning Inspectorate by early 2016. It would then be subject to a public hearing before being formally adopted.

"We will hopefully have all of the additional evidence by Easter but that depends on the needs of the agencies," he said.

"Once we've achieved a satisfactory level of data and analysis for the various agencies then we will produce the next draft and consult on that in the early summer."

If that all goes to plan, a final report will go to the council's spatial planning committee in September before moving onto policy committee and full council before the end of the year.

Mr Smurthwaite added: "It's important to stress that unlike most councils who are doing the Core Strategy first and then a few years later they allocate the sites, we are doing both together and therefore we received the large number of comments and requests for further evidence.

"The reason we have done this is to increase the speed of the process but also even if a council has a Core Strategy they are still completely exposed to developers as all they have is a housing target but no agreed sites."

After the full council has agreed the plan, a formal consultation will be carried out.

"At that stage, we are not allowed to change the plan in light of the comments as all the comments are sent to the (government) Inspector. "

Once the inspector agrees the plan, there will be a further period of time for any legal challenge before it is formally adopted.