AN appeal against a decision to turn down plans to transform the former Otley Civic Centre into apartments is back on, says the developer behind the scheme.

The application by the Sekhon Group was turned down by Leeds City Council and the applicants went to the Planning Inspectorate to appeal - but the bid failed after not all the proper documentation was submitted.

Now the Sekhon Group says the matter has been rectified and the appeal against the refusal of planning permission will now be considered.

Samir Khan, of the Sekhon Group said: “We have been advised by our architects that the appeal was not validated due to the fact that a document which failed to upload was not received by the appeal inspectorate.

“We are pleased to confirm that this technical issue has been resolved and our application has been re-validated and our appeal is now being considered.”

Mr Khan said the company had only become aware of the state of disrepair of the Grade II listed building since they purchased it from Leeds City Council.

He added: “We are very keen to progress this iconic building for residential conversion as this was the basis upon which we purchased it.

“Our project aim is to preserve and restore the building, a well-loved landmark, sympathetically and ideally look at restoring any original features before modern features are added for the function of the building.

“We aim to create a development that is both viable and sustainable for the long term thus preserving and safeguarding this beautiful and iconic building which it and the people of Otley truly deserves.”

Mr Khan said that Sekhon undertook a marketing exercise with their agents to find out if there were any other parties who might want to utilise it for a use other than residential apartments.

He said that the only interest came from an Islamic community group who wished to use the premises for religious activities, and also an Asian banqueting/wedding organisation.

Mr Khan said: "After due consideration we decided we would wish to press ahead to submit plans for development of the site into luxury apartments as we felt this would be a better sustainable and future viable use for the building and for the local people of Otley.

“Unfortunately, unexpectedly our planning proposal was refused.

“If our appeal doesn’t succeed, we may have no further option but to then seriously reconsider the previous interests we had from the Islamic community group and the Asian banqueting/wedding organisation.”