RESIDENTS at a major housing development will soon have a village centre to call their own.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has approved a planning application for a centre with a convenience store, six units to be used as either shops, cafes or takeaways, and a veterinary surgery in Winnington Urban Village.

The scheme also has outline approval for a children's day nursery, a pub or restaurant, and a community facility.

In its planning application, Winnington Urban Village Development Company said the scheme would create the equivalent of 64 full-time jobs, and would come with a total of 108 parking spaces.

In a report, CWAC planning officers said: "The proposed development is supported in principle as a significant part of the strategically-important development of the urban village.

"The convenience store and the retail units are liable to be developed in the first phase, followed by the day nursery and pub/restaurant."

Northwich Town Council had supported the scheme, although two households in Walker Road objected on the grounds of noise disturbance from the pub, extra traffic and loss of privacy.

Cllr Sam Naylor, CWAC member for Winnington and Castle, believes the new facilities will be good for residents – but is disappointed that no primary school is included in the scheme.

“The bottom line is when you have the volume of houses that now exists in Winnington, it’s a positive step that people can use these facilities,” he said.

“It will bring jobs to the area and make life a lot easier for people who live there.

“My main disappointment is that the original plans for Winnington Urban Village were to have a school there too.

“But that’s gone by the wayside for one reason or another, and Winnington Park has had to double in size, while Charles Darwin has had to increase its pupil roll.

"It also means kids have to travel further, and there are safety concerns involved with that.”