A SUCCESSFUL bid to create extra parking spaces could spark the relocation of a London company head office to Bury.

Members of Bury’s planning committee granted permission to management software company AlphaGen for additional parking.

The firm will now be able to create six parking spaces on a grassed verge on the east side of Bridge Hall Drive.

AlphaGen have a strong customer base in the North West and want to move their head office from London to Bury so all 11 of their regional staff can work in the same building.

Jason Walshaw, director of AlphaGen, said: “The verge is currently unkempt, and we will put up a fence.

“Our proposals use only 30 per cent of the space and the parking will only be used within office hours.”

A report prepared for the planning committee said the car park would increase the economic viability of AlphaGen’s business without serious harm to visual or residential amenity, existing trees or highway safety.

“Given the economic benefits of the parking scheme accruing to the business, the limited scale of development and the mitigation in the form of landscaping the proposal is considered to be, on balance, acceptable,” it stated.

But householders of Old Bridge Hall and Bridge Hall Drive objected, arguing the proposed parking spots were dangerous because a sharp bend in the road reduces visibility for vehicles reversing from them.

One resident, speaking against the proposals at the meeting, said: “This affects all the residents — children play on and near the verge and could be struck by cars.

“Lights from cars could reduce privacy for properties and cause a nuisance.”