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Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee agreed to permit Richard Smith’s plans for the development at Crimsworth Dyeworks, Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge, which members were told was very close to the National Trust’s Hardcastle Crags nature area.

Conservative councillor David Kirton, for Hipperholme and Lightcliffe, said the development was clearly in a beautiful area with an interesting landscape.

But it was formerly an industrial site, he added.

Crimsworth Dean residents, pictured at the former Crimsworth Dyeworks site, are unhappy at designs for new homes there

“The proposed scheme is far better than what’s there now,” he said.

Thirty objections had been received about the site, many about the design, said the briefing papers to councillors.

Objector Helen Flage, who is also a member of Midgehole Residents’ Association, said: “The design will be ugly, intrusive and not in keeping with the architecture of the area, and should be refused. current plans are more like an ‘off the shelf’ housing layout that could be anywhere.”

The applicant said they had cooperated at every planning stage and meeting to develop an acceptable design.

‘Ugly’ Calderdale development has been approved despite 30 objections