A COMPANY'S plan to expand an industrial site and provide more units for businesses has been supported by councillors.

Absolute Concrete, based in the industrial estate off James Street, Westhoughton, has submitted a planning application to construct two buildings and separate them into seven units.

The aim is to attract more businesses to start up on the estate and create more jobs in the area.

The proposal was discussed at Monday's meeting of Westhoughton Town Council, where members unanimously backed the scheme and recommended it for approval.

Cllr David Chadwick said it was important to support applications encouraging businesses to start up in the town.

He said: "It is providing opportunities for businesses to start of and it is in the right area. It is not going to impinge on any site lines — it is in an industrial area."

The development would also create 12 car parking spaces to serve the new units.

A design and access statement submitted with the application said the plans would bring additional employment into the area and improve the visual appearance of the site.

It read: "The proposed development brings into use derelict/unused land to provide industrial units within the established industrial estate to cater for the existing local businesses whom want to expand and require larger units.

"The proposed could provide local existing businesses to expand and to remain in the same industrial estate, while allowing new businesses to rent out the existing smaller/starter units."