PLANS to turn the last remaining bit of business property in Wharton Road into houses has been welcomed as part of a bid to 'tidy up the town'.

Planners seeking to build 14 houses on employment land in Winsford have been given outline permission by the council, despite not complying to local plan rules, due to the fact that the site has been up for sale for around 10 years.

An application was submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build 14 detached and semi-detached houses at the former Securicor Ltd site in Wharton Road.

Despite the plans not meeting policies set out in the council’s local plan regarding residential development not being built on existing employment land, the council has given outline permission.

The policy in the local plan states that an exception to the rule can be made if employment use for the premises is ‘no longer commercially viable’.

In his report, planning officer Simon Greenland said the main reason for recommending approval was the fact that the site has been vacant for several years.

He said: “Although this section of Wharton Road was formerly populated by a number of industrial uses, recent years have seen these leave the area to be replaced by new housing developments.

“This site is the last industrial site along this stretch of road and the area is now mainly residential, with a modest number of commercial uses, including a restaurant/takeaway site and a nearby convenience store.

“The site has been marketed for several years and remains vacant, and the area is now predominantly residential. Therefore it is considered that the development is acceptable.”

The plans to build homes on the vacant premises was also met with a positive reaction from neighbours and councillors in Winsford.

Cllr Brian Clarke, member of Winsford Town Council and Wharton Ward member at Cheshire West and Chester Council, says this is the perfect type of development to make the town look more attractive.

Cllr Clarke said: "I welcome it because it's the use of brownfield land. No businesses want to go there and it's now predominantly residential in that area.

"That building has been on the market for around 10 years and it's the last business property left around there so this is all part of our efforts to tidy up the town."