A NEW job-creating industrial estate of 20 units can go ahead despite a councillor's plea to drop three of them in favour of a woodland for wild birds.

Burnley Council's development control committee approved the detailed scheme from Barnfield Contractors (UK) Limited on open land off the town's Rossendale Road.

It will deliver 20 industrial units including some linked office space and 117 car parking spaces.

The proposal for the nine acres of land already allocated for employment use produced three letters of objection which prompted its debate by councillors on Wednesday.

Local Coal Clough with Deer Play Liberal Democrat Cllr Gordon Birtwistle told the meeting: "The fields in my ward are rapidly disappearing under concrete.

"We are losing birds, wildflowers and bio-diversity.

"Could we not replace the block of three units with a woodland that would attract kestrels, hawks and other wild birds?"

Borough finance boss and keen birdwatcher Cllr Sue Graham said: "I don't think a few trees the would attract many kestrels and hawks.

Housing boss Cllr John Harbour added: "I think that is an unreasonable thing to ask."

Representing Barnfield Lee Greenwood said the estate already had outline planning permission and the units would be between 2,000 and 25,000 square feet creating new employment.

The company is promising to provide a significant amount of green landscaping to the perimeter of the site, including tree and wildflower planting.

It has already securing an agreement with Lancashire County Council pay £40,000 towards improvement works at the junction of Rossendale Road, Manchester Road and Glen View Road.

The full proposal for 20 new units was passed by the committee despite Cllr Birtwistle's concerns on a majority vote.