LEIGH'S flagship multi-million pound Sports Village scheme has cleared its final major hurdle.

The Government Office North West has ruled that the project will not be called in for a public inquiry and now contractors could be on site early in the new year.

The scheme will now go ahead as planned with a new sixth form college, 10,000 all-seater stadium for Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI, eight-lane running track and athletics facilities, leisure and retail development, housing and a new HQ for Leigh East ARL Club.

With outline planning permission already granted by Wigan Council, the developers can now submit a full planning application which will lay down the scheme in detail.