Converted Yorkshire Water building will also provide public toilets

Planning officers have given the go-ahead for a kiosk café owner to convert a former Yorkshire Water building by the Cow and Calf Rocks into a new snack kiosk, providing much-needed public toilets.

Grander plans by Toni Falconi for a modern visitor centre and café by the iconic viewpoint were turned down by councillors earlier this year.

Unlike the previous plans, the conversion scheme will not need Government permission required for new building development on common land.

Mr Falconi and Ilkley architect Richard Addenbrook, of Sense of Space, have held regular discussions with Bradford Council officers over recent years in a bid to find a scheme suitable for the sensitive landscape on the edge of Ilkley Moor.

Mr Falconi has run a smaller kiosk by the landmark for around 20 years.

The talks also discussed providing facilities for the many visitors who visit the rocks and walk on the moor each year. There is currently no dedicated visitor centre for the moor.

The approval of the smaller-scale plan paves the way for the provision of limited public toilet facilities, managed by Bradford Council or a chosen contractor, and information boards for tourists.

Bradford Council planning officers approved the plans on Friday, acting under delegated powers.

Friends of Ilkley Moor chairman, Owen Wells, welcomed the decision.

He said: “We were very much in favour of the original plan and we are glad to see another plan passed which will mean that the existing kiosk is replaced.”

Mr Wells also welcomed the provision of visitor facilities such as public toilets.

“That’s something we would be in favour of and something we have backed from the start,” he said.

Planning officer, Martyn Burke, said conditions had been imposed preventing the building being used as a restaurant in future and restricting the materials used. Planners also ruled the existing kiosk in the public car park must be demolished once the new snack bar is complete.