PLANS to demolish at least five business units to build more housing in Winnington have been rejected.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has turned down an application to build 33 new dwellings in Winnington Avenue where business such as IJS Motors, Motoserv, Brian’s Auto Centre, Gailsway Travel, Yoxall Joinery and Industrial Door Engineering are based.

The application, submitted by planning consultancy Lichfields, was rebuffed on grounds that the earmarked land is still an established employment site.

Planners also said the proposal limited the range, choice and quality of employment sites to meet future needs and that the applicant hadn’t shown the units were no longer commercially viable or environmentally acceptable.

The decision comes as a relief to Ian Sedgwick who has run IJS Motors, a mechanic and fabrication business, at the site for around nine years.

Ian, who lives in Leftwich, said: “This is a massive relief. I’ve worked hard to build up my business and reputation in the area and there is no other suitable industrial employment land available in which my business can be accommodated locally.”

Cllr Paul Dolan, who represents Winnington and Castle, also welcomed the decision.

He said: “There’s been a lot of development in Winnington, and while we do want homes in Northwich, we also want jobs for local people.”

He said there was already pressure in Winnington due to a lack of suitable road infrastructure, and while this would hopefully be redressed by the Northwich Transport Strategy Consultation, it was important to strike a balance.

He added: “We have to recognise that there is a lot of congestion in Winnington due to the new village being built without the right infrastructure in place.

“I think what is needed right now is a period of stability. We need to allow the new developments time to settle in before we start adding more and contributing further to the existing pressure on our roads and schools.

“I think planning has found rational reasons for not going ahead with this development.”