A LONG-RUNNING planning wrangle over a famous view could be ended next week.

Previous bids to develop the Da Mario Restaurant site in Waterside, Knaresborough, have ended in refusals, and two for new homes were rejected on appeal.

The site forms part of the famous Surprise View from the grounds of Knaresborough Castle looking upstream of the River Nidd and taking in Waterside and the Harrogate-York railway viaduct.

At a meeting of the Knaresborough area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council, planners will be recommending approval of an application by Leo Campagna to convert and extend the restaurant into a home, pulling down a cottage and replacing it with three detached properties.

Previous development plans have caused a storm of protests and there are several objections on this occasion.

Planning officer Neville Watson is recommending approval "on balance".

Knaresborough Town Council has tabled an objection, saying development would mean the loss of an internationally-recognised view of value of the River Nidd, viaduct and High Bridge.

The council also says design and siting of the homes are inappropriate in a conservation area.