PLANS for a major housing estate to be built of the former Wilderspool Stadium site are set to be approved next week.

Councillors will meet at the Town Hall on Wednesday to rule on an application to build 160 homes on the land off Priory Street and Fletcher Street.

The site has been empty since it was demolished in 2014, Warrington Wolves having last used it for an academy match in May of that year.

The application, part of the Southern Gateway scheme, would include some buildings of five storeys in height close to the railway lane.

A number of residents have objected to the plan with concerns over road safety, parking and traffic.

Ward councillor Maureen McLaughlin is supporting development but has agreed that residents are ‘rightly concerned’ about the impact on parking and traffic.

She added: “The traffic management here must be fully understood before planning permission is granted, and further mitigation for the residents – including possible remodelling of the parking and access on Fletcher and Priory Street should be considered.

“It may be, for example, that yellow box markings on Wilderspool Causeway could help to alleviate the problems for drivers wanting to access the Causeway."

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The application has been recommended for approval by planners.

The meeting of the development management committee will take place on Wednesday in the Town Hall at 6.30pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.