PLANS for an additional 37 car parking spaces at its headquarters in The Bailey have been lodged by Skipton Building Society.

Just weeks after residents voted against the bringing in of residents only parking in roads surrounding the offices, the building society has revealed plans to reconfigure the car park.

If approved, the plan, which will involve the removal of five trees, will increase the size of the car park from 560 to 597.

The building society, one of the largest employers in Skipton, says it is committed to improving the impact it has on the area and to work with the community towards alleviating problems outside its boundary.

It carried out a review and updated its Travel Plan in October, 2015 and entered into a lease arrangement with Skipton Castle for the use of to 100 spaces at the pay and display car park, off The Bailey.

It also made a 'major financial contribution' towards the cost of a study carried out by North Yorkshire County Council into the proposed residents only parking scheme in 13 surrounding streets.

Letters were sent out to 340 households in roads including Greenacres and Regent Road in December asking for a straight 'yes' or 'no' to the introduction of residents only parking.

Less than the required half of residents backed the scheme, which would have involved a cost, and it was not proceeded with.

In its application to Craven District Council, Skipton Building Society's architects, Bowman Riley, say the intention is the latest in a series of ongoing strategies by the applicant to demonstrate commitment and also a 'further measure aimed at reducing the potential for staff parking outside of the site boundary'.

The plan, at the front entrance, will include an improved 'arrival point' with new landscaping and the replacement of 17 existing car parking spaces, with 54.

"The application is the latest in a series of ongoing attempts by the applicant to improve onsite infrastructure facilities and demonstrates their commitment to working with the local community towards alleviating wider public concerns outside of their site boundary."