WINSFORD is being hailed as a key contributor to the future prosperity of the county.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, working in partnership with Public Sector PLC under the name ‘PSP CWAC LLP’, intends to deliver a further 350,000sq ft of employment floorspace next to the current Winsford Industrial Estate – potentially creating 1,500 jobs.

The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership has helped to work on the project, and chairman Christine Gaskell believes the industrial estate will play a big part in the region’s economic future.

“The expansion of the Winsford Industrial Estate will make an important contribution to the LEP’s objective to double the size of the Cheshire and Warrington economy,” she said.

“We were therefore delighted to provide the funding necessary to build the roads and other infrastructure to enable the expansion to take place.”

The scheme, designed by architects Corstorphine and Wright, benefits from £1.2 million from CWAC and a further £3.8 million from the LEP’s local growth fund.

A decision on the planning application is expected in July 2018.

Cllr Brian Clarke, CWAC cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure, said: “Some 4,000 people are employed on the estate in a wide variety of businesses in a range of different properties.

“Despite its size and role, it currently offers only limited services for users and visitors with no cafes, restaurants or hotel accommodation.

“PSP CWaC LLP completed extensive feasibility work which revealed the site’s development potential. This scheme will unlock that potential and create more jobs in the town and highlight the fact that Winsford is a great place to live and work.”

Lee Mansfield, director at Corstorphine and Wright’s Manchester office, added: “Our proposed designs, as part of the wider regeneration strategy for Winsford, aim to transform the area."

“We are excited to be part of the team working to revitalise and reinvigorate the town, creating a destination people want to visit, dwell and return to.”