THE council has more than £500,000 to spend on outdoor sports facilities in Northwich after an auction to sell parts of Vics' now former home.

To compensate for the loss of the Victoria Stadium, its new owners – Thor Specialities (UK) Ltd – will pay the sum to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) in return for approval of its plans to redevelop the nine-acre site.

The chemicals manufacturer will build warehouses to store those products it makes at its Wincham base.

It has sold the scrap rights for those lots that did not receive a satisfactory bid – specifically the main stand and the iconic Dane Bank terrace – for a further £30,000.

The council is in talks with Sport England, who opposed a decision in March by councillors’ on the strategic planning committee to approve Thor’s proposal, and Cheshire FA over how best the money can be spent.

Its preferred option is to overhaul Moss Farm outdoor sports complex, in Winnington.

“Nothing has been finalised but we do anticipate most of the money will be allocated to the development of outdoor sport at Moss Farm,” said Clr Stuart Parker, portfolio holder for culture and recreation.

“The council has always wanted to see Moss Farm as an exemplar site, and this will help us to achieve that.”

He said the authority would discuss with clubs and teams already based there, including Northwich Rugby Club, ways in which they can benefit from the windfall.

The stadium assets were separated into five lots, for which sports clubs and groups could make a commercial or community bid.

Those offers were assessed jointly by Thor and the council in April.

Witton Albion will receive the floodlights to boost its planned community facilities programme, while new club 1874 Northwich and their Cheshire neighbours Nantwich Town will split seats from the main stand.

Both Witton and 1874 have had permission from Thor, which purchased land on which the stadium is built at the start of last year, to take fixtures and fittings that were not subject to bids.

Clr Parker added: “I’m delighted parts of the stadium will be used to help other football clubs in the area.”

The council told the Guardian that Vics, who hosted a match for the last time at the stadium in January 2012, did not make an offer for any of the lots.

“We’re happy with the outcome,” said David Hewitt, managing director at Thor.

“Thor has worked with the council to achieve the best possible result for sport in the local community.”

The firm’s application to build storage, as well as a separate proposal approved unanimously by councillors last summer, has been examined by the Government.

In a letter to the council last month the National Planning Casework United, part of the Department for Communities and Local Government, said: “The Secretary of State doesn’t consider that there is any sufficient reason to call in the application for his own determination.

“He has therefore decided that it should be determined at local level.”