AN undertakers could be on the move to make way for housing. Barkers and Courtiers in Trowbridge, will move to another location if planning permission is granted for ten new flats in Bond Street.

Operations manager Kevin Potts said: "With the growing success of the past few years we have decided to seek larger and more prestigious premises."

Site manager Niche Property Management has applied for planning permission to demolish buildings to make way for apartments with off road parking.

The application went before Trowbridge Town Council town development committee on Tuesday and met with a mixed response.

Cllr Graham Hedley said: "I have looked at the plans and it is quite nicely designed but I am a bit wary of more flats in that area because it is like a rabbit warren."

Bond Street is an old Victorian terrace and already has considerable parking problems but the committee felt the parking proposed with the development would offset any more difficulties.

Cllr Helen Osborn said: "As long as there are parking places this is acceptable. If houses are converted they often don't have parking."

The committee voted by four to three, not to object to the proposal.

Barkers was started as a family business in the town 80 years ago but was bought by Sterling Care in 2003.

Mr Potts said the undertakers is still run as a small business with a manager handling the day to day work.

"It is successful because we give that little bit more. People don't stop grieving after the funeral. We have someone they can call even months later who will listen and understand."

The firm employs three full-time staff and several casual workers but more are expected to be taken on should the business move.

Partner Laurence Cowley, of Niche Property Management, said: "What we are trying to do is see if we can get a better site for it. It is just a case of moving it to another site in the town."

Mr Cowley said he could not confirm where the new location would be but said it would be nearer the town centre, not far from the Trowbridge ring road.

The planning application for the Bond Street site is due to go before West Wiltshire District Council's planning committee.