THOUSANDS of jobs and hundreds of new homes could be created on Deeside.
Ambitious plans have been unveiled to create an employment-led business, science and technology park at the Northern Gateway.
Developers say more than 2,100 jobs could be created in the £95 million project.
Residents could also benefit from improved flood defences, shops and parkland.
A total of 600 houses, a shopping centre, a hotel and a training hub are planned for the former Corus steelworks site on Welsh Road, Garden City.
The 200-acre site was bought for £5 million by joint venture Pochin’s and Rosemound Developments and is expected to spearhead the construction of new facilities in the area.
The project could spell an end to the struggles of the Deeside Corridor, parts of which are among the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Wales.
The partnership has submitted its ambitious bid to Flintshire Council and hopes to get the go ahead to start work next year.
Dave Rolinson, chairman of agent Spawforths, said: “Essentially, it will be a business through to manufacturing through to warehousing park.
“It’s something that has been around as a concept for many years and it’s fabulous news.
“It’s part of the Deeside Enterprise Zone which will bring several thousand jobs, high quality housing, local services and training opportunities.
“We are developing a flood defence solution for the whole of Garden City, as well as playing fields and ecology areas.
“The John Summers building is going to be refurbished and that’s going to be a technology park to hold apprenticeships to allow people to learn to work in the other ventures on the business park. We have submitted a planning application and hopefully the council will approve it by the end of the year.”
The masterplan document states: “Within the Deeside Corridor there are six wards which in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation are within the 20 per cent most deprived in Wales.”
It added: “This will bring significant investment in the economy, jobs, infrastructure, the environment and housing, bringing the opportunity to create a step change for the economy of Deeside.”
Flintshire councillor Bernie Attridge said: “I can confirm we have received a planning application from Pochin Rosemound (Deeside) Limited (PRDL) for a mixed use development on the south western part of the Northern Gateway site, off Welsh Road. The Northern Gateway site is a key mixed use site identified in our recently adopted Unitary Development Plan.
“A planning application for a mixed use development from Crag Hill Estates Limited was considered favourably by the planning and development control committee for the north-eastern part of the site in April this year.
“PRDL now proposes a mix of uses, including a logistics and technology park, residential areas; a retail centre; hotel, training and skills centre along with parkland and areas for flood mitigation.
“The scheme is currently out for public consultation and will be considered by planning and development control committee in due course.”
The new plans come hot on the tail of a multi-million pound development approved in April, for the North Eastern part of the Northern Gateway site.
The 400-acre area on the former RAF Sealand camp will boast 1,100 new homes linked to Garden City, three million sq ft of industrial and manufacturing space and 50,000 sq ft of retail space.