Three hectares of near derelict land off Spencer Street, half a mile south of Northwich town centre, will become the setting for 80 new houses and apartments, a large craft workshop, office space and a public park.

The land, once the site of Yarwood's shipyard, will also provide new facilities for the mooring of Northwich Sea Scouts' training ship.

Northwich Mayor Clr Ron Woodier said: "It is nice to see a once truly contaminated site developed in this way.

"There was some small opposition from people living on Spencer Street when it first came up some years ago - but this will always be the case with new developments.

"And this one has been welcomed and recognised as a great improvement to the town.

"It works because it has something for everybody which is what we also need at the Castle Street site which has been the centre for so much controversy recently."

The site was used for shipbuilding from 1896 to 1966 and was left in very poor condition. Government agency English Partnerships has agreed to plough over £545,000 into the project on a site which forms a major part of the River Weaver Valley Initiative.

Leslie Ormrod of Lovell Partnerships, which is developing the site, said: "We really did want to make something out of it for everyone, rather than try to make as much money out of it as possible by building lots of houses.

"We want to create a pleasant haven to walk in and a place where people can go on their own and not feel scared to death.

"It is three years ago now since we looked at the site - it has taken so long because there have been a lot of people, like the water board, to consult and grants to obtain.

"We are looking forward to starting work on March 1. And more than 50 new jobs will also be created."

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