CONSTRUCTION of Leigh's flagship Sports Village will start in April with all the work scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007.

A replacement Sixth Form College will be the first part of the multi-million pound scheme to get underway with the sports, swimming pool and retail facilities to quickly follow.

Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI should be in their new 10,000 capacity stadium by 2008.

Tenders for the huge project went out just before Christmas and all the associated legal work should be completed by the end of January.

Trevor Barton, chairman of the Leigh Sports Partnership, said: "I'm happy to report that everything is still on schedule despite us having to revise the plans slightly because of added interest from the commercial world.

"I know there was some scepticism in certain quarters that our aspirations to deliver a debt-free development that did not impinge upon our rate payers was a little over optimistic, but we are very close now to and very confident in achieving just that.

"There are now firm commitments for a 100-bed hotel and the provision of a pub/restaurant. There are two very large retailers involved and two sports orientated companies, one from a fitness point of view and one from a sportswear point of view.

"One of the pizza companies is coming on board and there is a very strong commitment in occupying about 40% of the office space from a company of solicitors and a company of accountants.

"The bowling alley and cinema people have nearly signed up. There is going to be a parade of shops with about ten units in it and strong interests are evolving. Of course, there will also be small areas which might ultimately be developed on as the project progresses.

"Naturally, costs have to be carefully controlled but there is a great deal of expertise being used to ensure that we get the right type of solid capital investment and to ensure that leases and rents are pitched at the right level to ensure sustainability through garnering long term revenue."

The Marshall Street site development will also have a big impact on the jobs market.

Mr Barton adds: "We are not sure yet how many jobs the development will create, but already it is looking like a substantial number. As we have always said, the Village could act as a catalyst for further investment in our area and it was particularly pleasing to see recently that funding is in place for the creation of the new park type developments at Bickershaw which will compliment the Village, Pennington Flash and surrounding area.

"It will be really pleasing to see neglected areas of our industrial past being turned into areas for family recreation adding to our quality of life for generations to come.

"It is pleasing to note that a great deal of money is now being spent in ensuring that the environment is going to be carefully nurtured and looked after. The green side of what we do is being carefully considered and implemented as the development allows.

"There is still a commitment to ensuring access for the whole community and to make it available to everyone regardless of age, gender or sporting ability."