WARRINGTON and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announced plans for a new health and wellbeing campus.

The trust has revealed the 'once in a lifetime' project at its Halton Hospital site in order to tackle obesity and dementia.

A government-funded programme has seen the area earmarked as one of 10 places across the UK where health and social care, retail, leisure and housing sectors are being tasked to work together to revitalise care in the community.

Health bosses hope that the plan will help to keep older people in their own homes for longer with the aid of specialist support.

Architects are now being challenged to come up with a design for the health village, which will be built alongside 800 new eco-homes as part of the plan to keep people out of hospital unless it is necessary.

The news comes day after plans to move Warrington Hospital to a new 'state-of-the-art' site were revealed.

Trust chief executive Mel Pickup said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make Halton Hospital's site the focal point for the health and wellbeing of current and future communities and keep people independent for as long as possible.

"We recognise that there is a long way to go but the immediate next step is to organise a design challenge and involve the people who live and work in Halton and who will use or deliver the services in its creation.

"We urge everyone to get involved and join us in creating something that we can all be proud of, a rich health and social care legacy for Halton."

The existing urgent care centre and the Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre would be included in the new-look site.