A joint venture called Horwich Vision, between Bluemantle and Orbit Investments, has been submitted for a planning application for 1,700 homes and 379,000 sq ft of employment space at the former Horwich Locomotive Works near Bolton.

The plan for the 188-acre site represents a total investment of more than £260m over the next 15 years and includes the preservation of a number of former works buildings and a newaccess road that will link the site with Horwich Parkway railway station, junction 6 of the M61 and the nearby Middlebrook retail park.

Jim Caldwell, chairman of Bluemantle, said: "This planning application is the next major step by the Joint Venture Partnership in the regeneration of this strategic brownfield site.

"We have been working closely with Bolton Council, and other key stakeholders over a number of years to reach this point and we look forward to seeing the transformation of the site. Many of the existing buildings on site are reaching the end of their useable lives and a number are no longer capable of being occupied. 

"The time is now right to commence the mixed use regeneration of this under-utilised site and to open the next chapter in Horwich's evolution creating contemporary housing and many jobs."

HOW Planning is the planning consultant for Horwich Vision and Cass Associates is the master planner.

Cliff Morris, Bolton Council leader, said: "It is a development of regional significance and could provide some 1,700 residential units which would help us meet housing demand in Bolton over the next decade. It comes shortly after the council approved the planning application for Logistics North and the new cinema and leisure development at the Market Place and if approved would be further significant private sector investment in Bolton."