Traders' delight as developer pulls controversial housing plans for busy industrial estate

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

direct to your inboxTraders are celebrating after a developer pulled controversial plans to build more than 200 homes on a busy industrial estate.Property firm Countryside has withdrawn its proposals for Fieldhouse Industrial Estate in Rochdale following fierce opposition.Around 70 firms operate from the site and businesses claimed that up to 1,000 jobs could be lost should the project go ahead.Residents also feared the already congested Whitworth Road would not be able to cope with the additional traffic that would be generated.Council leader Allen Brett had warned Countryside the scheme would not be granted planning permission, as the 13-acre site is earmarked for business and industrial use under council policies.It is understood council.