A BED factory will be replaced by a large housing estate if planning permission is granted.

George Wimpey in Manchester wants to demolish the former Restawhile Beds factory in Walkden and build 135 houses plus access roads and landscaping, but planning officers say it should be turned down, branding the submitted layout 'poor quality' and saying the plan fails to tackle basic highway safety issues or look at crime reduction. The factory, on the corner of Worsley Road North and Devonshire Road, closed in November last year and covers 3.2 hectares at Oakhill Trading Estate. Wimpey wants to build houses ranging from two-bedroom apartments to four bedroom detached houses as well as a children's play area.

Two letters of objection have been sent to the council from occupiers of two industrial units voicing concerns about traffic but no neighbours have objected. Salford Council's planning and transportation regulatory panel will discuss the plans at a meeting at 10am this Thursday.

.5 (7 November).