BUILDERS are set to start work on one of the largest village developments the North West has ever seen.

The building of Buckshaw Village, Euxton, on the site of the old Royal Ordnance Factory, will begin next month.

The impact on the surrounding area could be immense with the creation of at least 1,500 houses, two business parks providing 10,000 new jobs, a new school, health centre and two village parks on the 420-acre site.

The first area to be built will be a business park in the north of the site with work starting there in July.

Alan Croston, head of planning at Chorley Borough Council, has been working on the plans for the site for the past five years.

He said: "It's been a lot of work, but with development beginning soon it is becoming a reality. The traffic impact was discussed in order to pass outline planning permission three years ago. There have now been and will continue to be a series of road improvements round the edge of the site."

These include improvements on the Dawson Lane junction on to the A49, new traffic lights on Euxton Lane, improvements at junction 28 of the M6 and the Hartwood roundabout and a new road called Central Avenue which will run straight through the estate.

Euxton Railway Station will also be re-built and improved to encourage use of public transport.

The houses that will be built, once final planning consent is given by the council, will have a rural but contemporary feel with the centre of the village having green space, one or two shops, water features and mill-style apartments.

Mr Croston said: "We have been encouraging the architects to give it a contemporary suburban feel."

Worden Hall and Buckshaw Hall will also be refurbished.