BUILDING of 225 homes and a new business park in Skipton could get under way towards the end of next year following the approval of outline planning permission.

Developer Henry Boot told Craven District Council's planning committee a detailed application for the Wyvern Park development would be submitted next year, with work starting as soon as possible afterwards.

Director Ben Ward said interest from businesses both locally and nationally for the site – between Waltonwrays Cemetery and Sandylands Sports Centre – had been high and would bring up to 800 new jobs to the town.

He stressed houses were needed as part of the scheme to make it viable, and added the company had removed the originally proposed supermarket and hotel after they had failed to win the support of committee members.

Concerns were raised about flooding, increased traffic on roads and pressure on schools, but councillors were reminded all would be taken up when the scheme returned in its detailed form.

Roger Beck, from the management committee of Sandylands Sports Centre, urged councillors to ask for a financial commitment from the developers to cope with surface water.

And Cllr Ady Green (Cons) called on the committee to reject the proposals on the grounds there was too little employment development and too many houses.

The site was, he said, the last in Skipton that could be used for employment, and it had been released by the council to bring prosperity to the area.

"This is not a solution to Craven's employment and industrial problems – it was never supposed to be residential and it should be flatly refused," he added.

But Ian Swain, development control manager, reminded councillors that without the residential element, the business park would not be built. He further pointed out that public spaces had been included in the plan to protect the quiet and tranquility of the cemetery.

"If this was a site purely for employment use, it would have not come forward – there has to be an alternative use," he said.

Cllr Alan Sutcliffe (Cons) said it was a "pipe dream" to think the entire site could have been used for employment and industry.

He added: "This has been a long haul. I don't think we would ever get it 100 per cent employment land. We have to face up to practicalities, approve it and let Wyvern Park commence."

The scheme will feature two separate areas of employment development and two areas of open public space, including next to the cemetery. New roundabouts will be built off the A629 western bypass and off Carleton Road. A third access to the employment land will come south of the cemetery.

A second phase of the development will be reliant on the successful completion of the Skipton Flood Alleviation scheme, currently under construction.