A PLANNING application which could see a multi-million pound sports village built in Bromley Cross is expected to be submitted soon.

Developers Bromley Cross Developments announced proposals for the project in September — including plans for a range of all-weather sports pitches and a gymnasium as well as an Aldi supermarket and restaurant — but Bolton Council is yet to receive an official application.

Residents and local politicians have called on the developers to be more forthcoming with information regarding the progress of the ambitious project.

If it goes ahead, the sports and leisure village will occupy an area of 27 acres of land at the now closed Holland Gardening Centre site in Darwen Road.

A spokesman for Bromley Cross Developments told The Bolton News that if all goes well, a planning application should be submitted soon.

Bromley Cross councillor Norman Critchley said he has become frustrated with a lack of information from the developers who initially said they aimed to get an application in before Christmas.

He said: “We have been trying to get some answers for people in the village for a long time but we have been unable to.

“The developers said that they would be in contact with local councillors but there has been no communication whatsoever — that doesn’t give a well being of trust for me.”

Councillors have previously stated that the developer will face a big challenge to push the plans through as it would mean building on green belt land.

Some residents have become concerned after seeing trucks filled with material travelling to and from the Hollands site as well as claiming to see diggers operating on the land — but this activity is believed to be linked to existing permission for the creation of eight football pitches on greenbelt land behind the nursery, granted in 2007.

This permission was objected to by local residents at the time who claimed the site was protected against development by the 1934 Birtenshaw Covenant.

One Bromley Cross Resident, who did not want to be named, said: “This substantial urban and sports development plan will see the end of the open land as it has been known for centuries.

“The developer surely has a duty to inform residents about any change of strategy and to make clear when the planning application will be ready for submission so that those who wish to draft an objection letter to such as the building of an Aldi supermarket, gym and restaurant on this green belt and covenanted land can do so."