MORE than 7,000 jobs could be created in Warrington over the next 15 years as part of proposals for a large employment park.

The Omega site in Burtonwood has long been allocated for employment uses, but a scheme to build offices on the 226-hectare site is gathering pace and could be ready to be put before Warrington Borough Council's development control committee by the end of the year.

A planning application for the site was originally submitted in 2003 but, until now, the scheme has been put on hold by the Highways Agency which has requested more information about the traffic implications of the proposals. It has the power to issue holding directives to prevent the borough council from determining the application until it receives sufficient information about the traffic considerations.

The latest direction is due to expire on December 31 and on going discussions with the Highways Authority and Warrington Borough Council indicate they hope to move forward with the application by that date.

The developers, Omega Warrington and the Commission for the New Towns, have just submitted a supplementary planning statement in response to issues raised in initial consultations. Some of the main concerns over the scheme came from Manchester, Salford and Liverpool City councils who have said the land is not suited for this type of development but the partners involved in the application say many of the issues have been resolved in the supporting planning statement.

In documents submitted to the borough council, the applicants say that if the scheme goes ahead, it could create between 7,134 and 8,370 full time employees by 2021. In total over the next 25 to 30 years, Omega is likely to provide employment for about 24,500 full-time employees.