OWNERS of Burton’s Foods are poised to lodge plans for a mixed development of homes and light industrial units on the site of their Moreton factory.

Burton board director Neil Grocock said: “We believe that these plans, to deliver new land and infrastructure for employment units and housing, are the most sustainable and beneficial for the people of Moreton.”

The company, with brands including Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels, was bought this week by Canadian investors the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan for £350m.

Manufacturing at Moreton ended amid fierce opposition two years ago with the loss of 200 jobs.

However a successful chocolate refinery remains at the site and is “going from strength to strength” employing 50 people.

Staff at the refinery will not be affected by the move and union representatives say they have been assured there will be no job losses.

Plans for the site include its development with new employment units for small and medium-sized businesses, and construction of up to 234 family homes of various sizes and styles.

However the schemes clashes with Wirral Council policy ruling that the site should be kept for industrial and manufacturing purposes.

The area remains identified by the council as “primarily industrial.”

Moreton councillor Ian Lewis questioned the siting of the proposed new homes.

He said: “More housing on the flood plain is the last thing we need here. Much of open and green space in Moreton and Leasowe is already at risk.”

Wallasey MP Angela Eagle observed: “There is unmet demand for quality and affordable housing across Wallasey and I usually welcome proposals to build more homes.

“However, we need greater clarity about the proposals.

“How will new houses be protected from the frequent flooding of the River Birket?

“Will it result in job losses at the factory?

“How much industrial space will remain and where else is realistically available for local employment?”

Burton’s plans to hold public consultation over the scheme before submitting a planning application to the local authority.

It will take place on Friday, November 29, between 1.30pm and 7pm, at Moreton Community Centre in Maryland Lane.

A council spokesman said the views of local people would be a key consideration in any future decision relating to the land.

The Unite union stressed it has been given assurances there will be no job losses at the site as a result of the Canadian pension fund takeover of Burton’s Foods.

Franny Joyce, Unite regional officer, said: “In fact the takeover announcement is good news for the whole of the company.

“The company is expanding again and at the Moreton chocolate refinery, we have taken on some new apprentices working in electrical and mechanical engineering.

“After the redundancies of 2011, the chocolate refinery has gone from strength to strength and is now performing better than even we had predicted.

“We have been assured that there are no plans within the company for any job losses.”

The Moreton refinery supplies high-quality chocolate for Burton’s manufacturing sites at Blackpool, Edinburgh and Llantarnam, South Wales.

Unite site convenor Steve Parker said: “This factory is very much on the up. We are producing a very high-quality product and I doubt there is a better chocolate refining facility in the country.”

He said the Wirral plant recently won a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents award for its outstanding health and safety record.