PLANS to redevelop a disused building next to an engineering company have been thrown out after warnings that noise complaints could threaten jobs.

Modlar Ltd had proposed to demolish premises at the former auction mart site at Ulverston's Lightburn Road/Brogden Street junction to create a terrace of six houses and six flats, all two-storey and arranged in a L-shape, with off-street parking.

But planners threw out the application this week after hearing potential complaints about noise from new residents could threaten work at the neighbouring Versatile Precision Tools.

The premises were last occupied by Cumbria Crystal, but have been vacant since September 1999, while the long-established engineering firm Versatile Precision Tools occupies the western part of the original auction market building.

The applicants' agent claimed the site was suitable for residential development, saying it had been on the open market for at least two years with no firm interest shown.

However, South Lakeland District Council's planning committee heard at its Tuesday meeting there were environmental health issues surrounding the proximity of the proposed properties to the existing industrial site, which could give rise to contamination concerns.

June Taylor, speaking for Versatile Precision Tools directors, also said their premises were 'interlocked' with the building in the proposal, while the dividing wall was only single brick.

"We have grave concerns the structure would be made unsafe," she said.

Mrs Taylor said the company had never received complaints about noise, but predicted this would change if the development went ahead.

The nature of the company's work is noisy, involving machinery, power presses, metal cutting and long operating hours.

Mrs Taylor said noise complaints "could possibly lead to restrictions on our hours of work and loss of business", which could result in job cuts and the factory having to move.

She told members the site had always been used for industrial and employment use and directors had been told that would remain the case when they moved in several decades ago.

SLDC's development control manager Peter Ridgway told the committee on Tuesday there was concern the development could exacerbate existing parking problems, saying several local residents had sent letters of objection.

Ulverston Town Council felt it was "too intensive" and could lead to loss of employment, he said, while the Civic Trust was concerned at the loss of an historic building and the conflict between residential and employment uses.