BUSINESS owners in Hereford are fighting a plan to turn the trading estate where they are based into 120 homes.

Codex Land PCC, a company based in the Isle of Man, has applied to Herefordshire Council to knock down all existing building at the Holmer Trading Estate in College Road and build houses.

John Mayo-Evans, whose garage has been at the estate for 35 years, said: "There are 25/26 companies employing approximately 150 people here. Where are they going to go in the event they approve the planning application?

"This is employment land on Holmer Trading Estate and has been since the early 1800s. They are building houses everywhere but where are these people going to work if they are taking away employment land?"

He has been given a six month notice to quit.

He said: "I have got no intention of moving- I will barricade myself into it."

In September 2008 a planning application for mixed used development of 115 homes and an employment area was refused for the site by Herefordshire Council, because of the loss of employment land.

But the Hereford Residential Developments Ltd appealed against the decision and when it went to the planning inspectorate, it was approved.

Codex Land PCC has bought the land and put in a different application.

Frank Cornthwaite has run Frank's Luxury Biscuits from the estate since 2004. He said he has looked to move the business to Rotherwas, but the move alone will cost him £109,000. He said their biscuits are shipped all over the world, and they don't want to take the business away from Hereford.

Richard Baker from J&R Recovery said: "These big developers are riding roughshod over the little man- chucking everyone out of work to build houses on industrial land.

"We are trying to fight it- it is employment land. They are ready to throw all these little businesses and their families on the tip."

A statement on behalf of owners, Codex Land PCC, said: "Since the last application was granted consent on appeal several years ago, all the tenants on this site have been fully aware of the plans to redevelop and that is reflected in their lease arrangements. The managing agents have kept them abreast of affairs throughout.

"Hereford needs new family houses and the proposals for this site reflect that whilst also providing open space and the potential reinstatement of this section of the Hereford Canal.

"Residential redevelopment of this contaminated brownfield site will also relieve pressure on greenfield sites around the city. Local residents were supportive of these plans at the recent public consultation.

"The owners have appointed Arkwright Owens to assist all the existing tenants to relocate to more suitable space in an orderly fashion and many are actively making plans."