A £25 MILLION plan to build 160 homes on the site of the former Wilderspool Stadium have been approved.

Developers submitted plans to build the homes more than four years after the stadium was demolished in 2014.

Wire Regeneration, a joint venture between developer Langtree and Warrington Borough Council, is behind the scheme which will be the first in its wider plans to transform the town’s so-called Southern Gateway area around Wilderspool.

Council chiefs approved the scheme at a planning meeting in the Town Hall on Wednesday where plans were discussed in more detail.

Twenty per cent of the site capacity is allocated affordable housing and councillors were in favour of the regeneration of brown field space.

Planning officers confirmed a total of £597,072 would be given towards providing primary school places and up to £468,959 for secondary school places in the area.

No members of the public attended the meeting to object to the plans and councillors conducted a site visit on Friday.

Martha Hughes, from the council's planning department, confirmed that construction access could be secured via St James Court upon the relocation of the bus depot.

Latchford West councillor Maureen McLaughlin, said: "I am in favour of bringing a brown field site into a much needed site for housing that with sensitive design will enhance the area.

"I am speaking on behalf of residents about their traffic concerns as it is very difficult to turn onto Wilderspool Causeway."

It was agreed that Fletcher Street would not be used as an access point.

Appleton councillor Judith Wheeler expressed concerns for pedestrians and cyclists at the junction for St James' Church and officers agreed to explore a special safety measure.

Bob Barr, councillor for Lymm North and Thelwall, said: "This has been a very long time coming and it is really going to be an important contribution to where our town is heading in the future with modern and appropriate housing."

It was also recommended that Priory Street and Fletcher Street should be brought up to the same standards as the new development so as not to contrast old and new areas.