CAR dealerships in Leigh could be on a “downward spiral “ after a second application was submitted to transform a showroom into flats.

A planning application has been submitted to Southend Council to turn Estuary Cars on London Road into nine flats.

It follows an application to turn Bransons showroom into 14 flats.

Bob Johnson, 59, owner of another dealership, Johnsons of Leigh, explained the area has become attractive to developers and used car businesses are slowly being pushed out.

He said: “The used car dealership business is on a downward spiral and people are very keen to develop car sites along London Road.

“That’s the way it is going.

“The road as it was is changing and I think that’s what the council wants.”

Mr Johnson explained there was once a time when London Road was seen as one of the best spots for buying a used car and almost every make and model was available at the dealerships spread across the area but that era is quickly fading.

He added: “There is a value in the land that the cars sit on and businesses are being pressurised. It is not easy running a used car business in a busy residential area and it is a national transition.

“Like how the supermarkets have swallowed up smaller shops and hence the high streets are dying, it seems society wants to shop outside of the residential areas.”

The latest planning application is to transform the Estuary Cars showroom into a part two-storey and part three-storey flat block comprised of nine apartments, eight of which would have one bedroom and one would have two. At the end of June another application was received by the council to redevelop the Bransons showroom, less than half a mile from Estuary Cars. A decision on this application is due to made on Wednesday with planning officers recommending it is rejected.