A CONSORTIUM of developers is once again hoping to secure outline planning permission to turn a massive brownfield site in Winnington into a 1,200 home urban village.

The Winnington Urban Village Consortium, that has submitted the application, comprises Brunner Mond, Taylor Woodrow, Morris Homes and Barratt Homes.

It was formed after Vale Royal Borough Council's planners refused to give the development the go ahead last November.

If the revised application is successful it would mean up to 1,200 homes being built on the former Wallerscote works.

These range from one bedroom apartments to six bedroom family homes.

The initial development would include a primary school, shops and other community facilities including open spaces.

The original application, which was submitted as five separate plans, was refused because the council was not convinced that the developers would be able to implement the necessary highway infrastructure to serve such a big development.

Mark Chitty, director of corporate affairs at Brunner Mond, is now confident that the revised single plan, which includes a comprehensive masterplan for the development, will satisfy the council's concerns.

He said: "The plans include a considerable number of highways improvements not only within the urban village but also in the surrounding links through to Northwich, Hartford and Barnton.

He added: "We have worked very closely with the council over the past eight months and the result is the new application which we believe deals comprehensively with all the reasons for rejection last year."

The masterplan details how the development intends to make the most of its riverside location and includes details of pedestrian walks, cycle routes and a subsidised bus service that is intended to encourage people to leave their cars at home.

The consortium plans to hold a series of public exhibitions during September, which will allow residents to talk to the developers and their consultants about the plans.

In addition, leaflets will also be circulated in the area.

If everything goes to plan, developers hope that by spring 2005 the first houses will be being built.