Plans by Screwfix to open a new branch in Cheltenham have been given the axe.

The company wanted to take over a vacant unit in Athelney Way, on the edge of Battledown Industrial Estate.

But it was told the noise from tradespeople using the site between 7am to 8pm would ruin the lives of local residents.

Several homes neighbour the site and local residents said the proposed opening hours were "unsociable" and raised concerns about the impact on the "already very dangerous" between Athelney Way and Hales Road. One submitted numerous photos of previous accidents and traffic jams on the road.

One objector also said the applicants claim that the site would generate 30 vehicle movements on weekdays were "simply not true". They said the smaller Screwfix unit, which is 2.5miles away on Kingsditch Industrial Estate, generated far more traffic than this.

Planning officers from Cheltenham Borough Council agreed the development would worsen the existing on-street parking congestion in Athelney Way, elsewhere on the estate and in nearby residential streets and would cause difficulties with deliveries to other commercial units. They said this could only be mitigated by parking restrictions being implemented on Athelney Way.

Officers also said Screwfix had proposed opening hours beyond those usually considered acceptable and there was "ambiguity surrounding the correct use class for a Screwfix store".

Screwfix Direct Ltd had applied for a change of use to Class B8 (storage or distribution) at a 1,213 sqm site named as Tim Fry Landrovers, Units 2 To 3, Ultronics House.

It was previously home to MFI Properties Ltd (a subsidiary company of Howdens Joinery Ltd) but is now vacant.

Screwfix wanted to make alterations to the two-storey unit that would allow it to set up a branch selling materials to local builders, plumbers, electricians and facilities departments of large organisations such as offices, hospitals, hotels, school and prisons.

Opening hours were chosen to suit tradespeople and proposed as 7am-8pm Monday to Friday (including bank holidays), 7am- 6pm on Saturdays and 9am- 4pm on Sundays.

It said 85% of the unit would be laid out for storage and as most of the sales would be to the trade sector the use could be classed as B8.

However, planning officers questioned this. They said there would be no restriction on sales to the general public and customers would generate "significant vehicular and pedestrian traffic movement to and from the site, over and above a typical B8 storage and distribution use.".

They concluded: "Caselaw on the use of industrial/storage units with a trade counter is not definitive."

A statement submitted by Hybrid Planning & Development Limited on behalf of Screwfix said the new branch would have created 12 jobs, four full-time, and would not contribute to parking problems or traffic congestion in the area.

It concluded: "Screwfix Direct Limited would make a positive contribution to the commercial and community life of the area providing essential trade counter services to local businesses."

Planning officers disagreed and said the plans should be refused as they would generate "an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance outside of normal business hours" and cause "significant harm" to the lives of neighbouring residents.