THE first detailed plans for the new £400m Buckshaw Village have been submitted to South Ribble and Chorley councils.

At the heart of them is a specially designed village centre of 95 new homes at the former Royal Ordnance Factory.

The ambitious project is one of the largest brownfield initiatives ever carried out in the North West.

It involves a consortium of developers -- Redrow and Barratt -- and could create up 6,000 new jobs when the 395-acre, mixed-use site is fully developed.

The village centre features predominantly town houses and apartments.

The developers say these will set the tone for future village property design, reflecting a traditional village theme with frontages right up to the footpaths and parking confined to the rear of the buildings.

A consultation process is now taking place before the applications are determined by both Chorley Council and South Ribble.

Robert Handford, managing director of Barratt Manchester said: "We're a big step closer to seeing the regeneration of Royal Ordnance Chorley and creation of a sustainable, mixed-use village."

Future plans will include more homes and amenities.

A £10.5 million remediation programme is already well advanced.