PLANNING bosses have rejected moves to build 125 homes in the centre of Radcliffe on the grounds that the 4.5 hectare site should be used for business and industrial use which would create more employment in the town.

But Merseyside developers Morris Homes are to appeal against the decision by the borough's planning committee.

Morris Homes wanted to build 125 apartments and houses on the site of the former Strebor Diecasting Company works at Allens Green. In addition, it also wanted to locate seven light industrial/warehouse units covering an area of 10,000sq ft in the north west corner of the site.

But planning bosses argued that the proposal would mean the loss of a substantial proportion of an Employment Generating Area to residential use, which would have a detrimental impact on the area.

They also said the development would result in dwellings being in close proximity to the newly-opened skateboarding park which would create a disturbance for householders. The skate park was built at that location precisely because it was away from houses.

Morris Homes claimed there is already sufficient industrial land elsewhere in the borough that is capable of providing more suitable development opportunities than the Allens Green site, but planning bosses did not accept this.