THE first phase of a £5million infrastructure project to continue the expansion of Winsford Industrial Estate has been completed.

The improvements, which have included adding new roads and landscaping at the estate, open up the site for further development and the onward creation of new employment.

The first phase of works unlock land equivalent to the size of 50 football pitches to the north of the current estate and is expected to create around 600 full time equivalent jobs in the area.

The project is part of a five-year vision which will create up to 1,260 jobs and deliver just over 460,000 sq ft of new commercial space on land next to the existing site.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said: "As we come out of the pandemic and the jobs market continues to show signs of growth, it is important that there are more employment opportunities close to home for the people of Winsford and across our borough.

"The completion of phase one of Winsford Industrial Estate marks the end of the first part of our expansion plans.

"The estate is ideally located in the region, with access to the major road and rail network.

"This latest expansion will help it become an even more significant location for people looking for good jobs in emerging industries, now and in the future."

The 'Build & Thrive' partnership was a collaboration between Cheshire West and Chester and Public Sector Plc's with £3.8m of grant funding from Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, Clare Hayward, said: "By investing in the expansion of Winsford Industrial Estate we are both helping to support the creation of good jobs for local people and also economic growth which will benefit all of Cheshire and Warrington.

"We are determined to use Local Growth Funding to produce sustainable growth and make a real difference to people and businesses here in Cheshire and Warrington.

"Supporting new infrastructure at the industrial estate will help to do this and I look forward to seeing this project thrive and continue to grow."

Winsford Industrial Estate has grown rapidly over the years and is now home to more than 100 businesses and around 4,000 employees.