PLANS for the Lostock Triangle have moved a step forward following the formal adoption of a Development Brief.

The brief has been given the green light by Vale Royal Borough Council.

But this is despite objections from some councillors who feel the 17-hectare proposed development, at the junction of the A556 and Manchester Road, is not being taken seriously enough.

The brief will now be used to help council officials decide on any planning applications submitted for the site, which has been earmarked for business use in the Local Plan.

But liberal democrat borough councillors Michael Fellows and Ann McEllin say they are unhappy about certain aspects of the brief and were opposed to its adoption by the Labour administration.

They wanted the brief to be amended to include regulations that the architects chosen to design the development should be of a "proven national reputation", and that a three-dimensional scale model should also be submitted with any application, to ensure the design is of the highest quality.

"We are disappointed that our motion was refused and cannot really understand why," said Clr Fellows.

"We both accept that we have lost our argument of the triangle being built on - we just wanted to underline the fact that it is a high profile site and needs a high quality design."