COUNCILLORS have unanimously given the go-ahead for a slurry pit and farm building just a short distance from the World Heritage site at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.

The planning application was put forward by Jennings Farmers at Hill House Farm, Fountains. The firm wants accommodation for 200 dairy cows. The building will have a fall from one end to the other of about 10ft, enabling natural drainage within the building.

An amended plan was tabled showing a break in the roof and the last four bays at the northern end stepped down from the hillside.

A planners report at a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council planning committee said, even though a public footpath passed along the south of Hillside Farm, it was generally well screened by trees to the west, north and east.

Surprisingly, the proposed building will be scarcely visible from any public vantage point except from a long distance view from the boarded up chapel on top of Howe Hill, added the report.

Because of its distance from Howe Hill, the new development would be well absorbed into the landscape, councillors were told.

A countryside officer expressed concern at possible spillage of muck generated by the site running off on to nearby woodland and a watercourse.

The building will serve one of the premier dairy herds in the country.

Planning officer Mike Warden said it would not detract from Fountains Abbey.