A SCHEME to bring back jobs to part of the former British Aerospace site at Lostock is a step nearer.

Taylor Woodrow Property Company and BAe Systems have submitted planning applications to Bolton Council for a development which would create employment for about 550 people.

As previously reported, Taylor Woodrow is negotiating with BAe Systems -- formerly British Aerospace -- to acquire 37 acres of land no longer needed by its company on the site, Matra BAe Dynamics.

The plans for a multi-million pound business park are expected to go before Planning and Highways councillors in the new year.

There are proposals for industrial warehousing affecting 23 acres which currently accommodate workshops, offices and the main car park off Lostock Lane. Some existing buildings would be demolished and new ones built.

A new car park, covering about two acres, would be constructed at the junction of Lostock Lane and Hall Lane for BAe Matra and the nearby Barnstormers leisure complex.

But facilities including three sports pitches, a bowling green and a pavilion, are unaffected by the current planning application.

Mr Simon Godley, Manager of Bolton WIDE, said today: "This is very positive news.

"It is what the council and Bolton WIDE wanted to see -- jobs going back on the site."

Bolton WIDE is a joint private and public partnership, committed to establishing manufacturing and commercial developments on a number of sites in Horwich and Westhoughton.

If planning permission is granted, work could start on the new Business Park early next year.

Emma Cordingley, Taylor Woodrow's Warrington-based Regional Director, said she thought it would be "quite a time" before a planning application could be submitted to develop the rest of the site.

"We would have to find an alternative green field open space to re-locate the sports facilities," she said.

"Until we have found that, I do not want to put in a planning application."