AMBITIOUS plans for the multi-million pound Northern Gateway project are gathering pace.

The company behind the massive development say it is finalising proposals and expects to reveal plans within the next few months.

The 500-acre site in Sealand will take up to 15 years to complete and it is expected it will form one of the largest employment sites in the UK.

Praxis Holdings, which owns half the land which is intended to form an extension to Deeside Industrial Park, has been in contact with Sealand councillor Chris Jones to discuss the plans.

Cllr Jones said: “Praxis has been in touch to say they it is getting ready to start the consultation with all the interested bodies.

“I have asked for total consultation with the residents of Sealand – I want them to be kept up-to-date every step of the way.

“I have asked for a medical centre, new shops, a community centre – everything that Sealand desperately needs.

“We get nothing this side of the blue bridge, we just get things taken away so this is going to be a very exciting project.”

Last summer Praxis bought 247 acres of land at the old RAF Sealand east site and former Corus-owned land next to Garden City.

The remainder of the site is owned by developer Pochin Goodman.

The development, which is expected to include 650 houses, will consist of residential, office, warehousing and general work space.

Cllr Jones added: “I’m glad Praxis phoned me and informed me of the progress because it’s given me something to look forward to this year.

“Everyone is worrying about jobs and things, but they have said this is definitely going to happen. It does help to know there is something like this on the horizon.”

Gareth Edwards, from Praxis Holdings, said: “There will be some very exciting news in the coming months. At the moment we are still working on our plans before we put them out for consultation but we expect them to be ready in the first quarter of the year.”

For further details go to www.northerngateway.co.uk.