PLANS have been revealed for a new housing development on the site of Chorley's Lex Auto Logistics plant.

The Pilling Lane firm is proposing to relocate its office headquarters and distribution facilities to part of the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Euxton -- making way for 400 homes.

Outline planning applications submitted by Lex, along with its development partners, Redrow and Barrett, show a mix of homes including apartments and two, three and four-bedroomed houses.

Subject to obtaining planning permission, work on the new plant for the company, which makes component parts for cars, could start as early as January 2005.

It is anticipated Lex will start the process of relocating its operations to the new premises towards the end of 2005.

The entire Pilling Lane site will then be demolished and work will begin on transforming the 25 acre plot.

Lex said the move would "provide job security to existing staff, with potential for new jobs in the future".

A spokesman for the firm, said: "Given the nature of our business it is critical that the company is highly accessible and can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"The existing site has a number of constraints, not least that it is in a residential area and is no longer considered suitable to serve this purpose.

"The company has therefore been exploring with a number of partners, including Chorley Borough Council, the opportunity to relocate."

Residents living close to the site gave mixed reactions after being informed of the plans via a leaflet drop by the company last week.

Dorothy Ollerton, of Pilling Lane, said: "I think that 400 homes is way too many for this area. Traffic will increase and I'm not convinced that the homes will be in keeping with the area.

"It's also important to maintain the tree frontage on the road which screens the area."

Jeffrey Holden, of Lighthurst Lane, said: "I don't have a problem with this. I would prefer the area to become more residential rather than industrial."

Pam Wright, of Ash Grove, said: "There are pros and cons to this. I don't have a problem with new houses, but we don't seem to get new schools and improved roads."

Alan Croston, Chorley Borough Council's head of planning services, confirmed Lex had submitted plans to relocate to the Chorley Strategic Regional Investment Site (formerly the Royal Ordnance site).

He said: "An outline application for the redevelopment of the site on Pilling Lane has been submitted on the assumption they would relocate onto part of the former Royal Ordnance site.

"One of the issues the council will want to be assured on is, if this scheme is to be supported then the employment and business run by the company will be retained in the area. That will be a key issue for the council."

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said: "I'm pleased the council has brokered a deal to retain these jobs in Chorley. The present location is within a residential area and so a commercial facility open 24 hours is not ideal."

The site has been used for industry since shortly after the First World War when Chorley Motors manufactured bus and lorry parts there until the 1980s. The site then became Multipart and then Lex.

People who want to find out more about the plans can see exhibitions on the proposed development in the council's offices in Union Street, and at the company's offices.