Plans to extend a snack kiosk by the Cow and Calf Rocks landmark and create an indoor seating area for visitors have been turned down by district planners.

Bradford Council’s Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel last week refused permission for the single-storey extension and refurbishment of an underground tank at the Cow and Cow Cafe, Hangingstone Road.

The plan had the support of Ilkley Parish Council, which asked for it to be put before a planning panel if officers were minded to refuse it.

But Bradford councillors agreed with the officers’ recommendation to refuse planning permission.

The site is in a Green Belt area.

In their decision notice, the council said: “The extension would add a substantial amount of new structure that would be prominently positioned. It would amount to a disproportionate extension over and above the size of the original building and would have a materially greater impact than the present building on the openness of the green belt and the purposes of including the land in it.

“It is not considered that very special circumstances exist sufficient to justify the harm that will be caused to the Green Belt by virtue of being inappropriate development and its height and scale.”

A previous plan, to demolish the former Yorkshire Water building, now used as the snack kiosk and toilets, and build a new visitor centre, was refused planning permission in 2011, before Bradford Council approved plans to convert the building to the current kiosk and toilets.

Applicant and snack kiosk owner Toni Falconi did not want to comment about the decision.

The planning panel last Wednesday (April 9) also refused planning permission for a second -loor extension, creating five additional bedrooms, at Abbeydale Rest Home, Grove Road, Ilkley.

The plan received letters of support from 195 separate addresses and letters of objection from 65.

Officers recommended refusal, saying it would over-dominate and further compound the negative impact that existing extensions have on the property.

Cow and Calf cafe owner Mr Falconi said he was disappointed with the decision, but he has not given up on plans to create an indoor seating area, following regular requests from visitors to the moorland landmark.

He said countryside management and Natural England had both been supportive of the plan, and new discussions are about to start with Bradford Council planners.