Controversial plans for business units in Leicestershire have been shot down by officials amid fears the scheme would be a "disaster waiting to happen".

North West Leicestershire District Council's (NWLDC) planning committee met on Tuesday (March 10) to decide the fate of 35 business units at Hill Top Farm in Castle Donington after more than 80 objections were raised.

However, despite the developer showing that businesses were interested in moving into the unit, councillors found there wasn't enough evidence to support the plan and voted to refuse it.

The committee previously deferred its decision in January to gather more information on the demand and need for the 35 units, site access from Castle Donington's relief road, and weight restriction signage, but was not convinced by the evidence put before it.

During the meeting, councillors raised concerns that the business unit plan would also cause a loss of amenity for residents due to potential noise, with conditions stating that the units would be in operation between 7.30am and 9pm and that anti-social behaviour could pose a problem.

Jon Imber, a representative of developer JMI Planning, told the committee that updated information provided to the council showed that "there is currently demand for the units that are not being met" and alleviated councillors' fears that HGV traffic resulting from the units would be "low", urging councillors to pass the scheme.

Updated information given to NWLDC found that the developer had received interest from 58 businesses – including car dealers and accountants – for the new units, with many reportedly wanting them "as soon as possible".

Labour councillor Alison Morley, appearing as a speaker, said she believed Castle Donington was already "awash" with industrial space and called it "planning pedantry".

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She told the committee: "The justification of these units seems to rest on the claim that there is a shortage of exactly 100sqm spaces, yet the report admits there are ten sites within a ten-mile radius offering units under 200sqm.

"In the real world of small business, is the difference between 100 and 150sqm really a barrier or just a potential growth opportunity?

"We have created an artificial need to justify building on a site that the community does not want to see industrialised".

Cllr Morley also said that the council would be "inviting a race to the bottom" and that the access to the Hill Top site was "fundamentally unsafe and unnecessary" and a "disaster waiting to happen".

Independent councillor Rachel Canny echoed Cllr Morley's concerns, saying the plan was "unwanted" and "unwelcome," and expressing concern about what the units will be used for.

She said: "I'm very concerned about the mention of car storage. Why on earth have we got someone interested in car storage in these small units?

Cllr Canny also talked about anti-social behaviour, saying it was a "big, big problem" and the plans for the unit wouldn't stop any potential anti-social behaviour spilling into the area.

Conservative councillor Ray Morris also said he agreed with Cllr Canny's comments and had concerns about relocating HGV limits, saying the current plan "worked very well" and that it would be "lost" if it were changed.

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He said: "This is a residential area. There are houses all around it. Working hours until 9pm – well, on a summer's evening, people like to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, so 9pm is way too late".

He also said he was "not entirely convinced" of the need for the new units, but was "convinced" that alternative units were available.

Labour councillor John Legyrs also agreed with Cllr Morris's comments and said he felt that villages were becoming "surrounded with sheds".

He said that people "have to drive through industrial estates" to get to their destination and that it was "a mess".

At the end of the debate, councillors voted on a motion to refuse the scheme, citing, among other reasons, the lack of immediate demand and need, and the loss of amenity. The motion was unanimously passed.