FRESH plans for new commercial units on the site of a business centre that was destroyed by fire have been approved.

Warrington Borough Council has granted planning permission for the development at Haydock Street Business Centre.

Three additional units are plotted in an extension to the existing town centre site, which is currently used as a gym.

The area which is set be built on is currently vacant, with the former Haydock Street Business Centre having been demolished in the wake of an arson attack five years ago.

Similar proposals were thrown out by the council in September last year due to fears over highway safety.

WBC officers also raised worries about a lack of detail in the submission.

But the latest application was passed on Wednesday, November 24.

Documents lodged as part of the latest application stated: “The site is positioned to the east of an existing commercial unit on currently vacant land.

“The land was once the former Haydock Street Business Centre, which was demolished following a fire in February 2016 – the application site has been vacant since demolition.

“New proposals have been prepared taking into account the reasons for refusal.

“It is proposed to erect industrial, storage or trade counter units and associated car parking and external works.”

Part of the Haydock Street Business Centre was flattened in late 2014 after what was believed to be a deliberate fire in October that year, with entry to the premises having been forced before the blaze was started in the early hours.

Firefighters spent 12 hours tackling the flames.

Another fire then broke out in the part of the business centre that remained standing in February 2016.

James Swanson was jailed for 17 months later that year in connection with the second blaze, having set a duvet alight in the disused building in order to keep warm.

The then 38-year-old, of Bolton, attempted to put the fire out with beer when the flames got out of control, but the premises was gutted and later bulldozed.