PLANNING officials have branded the designs for a proposed new guest house in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales as "poor quality.”

The National Park authority is being urged to reject plans for the building at Orton Works in Reeth.

Applicant Christopher Procter wants to build a five-bedroom guest house on the site of the former Blenkiron and Son builders yard.

The two-storey building would include a single-bedroom self-contained accommodation unit for staff and parking for six vehicles.

However the parish council has raised concerns about the impact of the development on neighbouring properties and eight letters of objection have been submitted by local residents.

In his report, national park planning officer Simon Chapman said the building would be out of character with the village.

He also raised concerns about the lack of good quality hard and soft landscaping, and said the proposed building would "present an oppressive form of development which would be detrimental in public views".

Mr Chapman said: "The proposed guest house is of a poor architectural design that does not contribute to the local character and visual quality of the area.”

He added: "The development amounts to piecemeal development that does not result in the satisfactory redevelopment of an important brownfield site."

In a statement submitted with the plans the applicant said they were the culmination of an arduous process of finding a continued for an important site to benefit Reeth and the Dales now and for the long term.