A MULTI-million pound retail park, which could create more than 350 jobs, looks set to transform a derelict site in Farington.

The Citizen has learned that an approach for the major new development has been made to planning chiefs at South Ribble Borough Council, and interest has been shown from famous names including;

Supermarket giant Morrisons

Discount designer store TK Maxx

Catalogue chain Argos

A fast food chain that has not yet been named.

Housing, a petrol station, an extension to a car salesroom, and a 500-space car park are also planned on the former Albion Automotives site on the Farington Business Park off Golden Hill Lane.

No formal applications have yet been lodged, but council chiefs have confirmed initial plans have been drawn up and a site visit has been made to assess its suitability.

Bradford-based Morrisons, which currently has 126 stores across the UK, confirmed it had already lodged its application. A spokesman said: "I can confirm that a planning application has been submitted for an 85,000 sq ft Morrisons supermarket on the Farington Business Park.

"If the application is successful, the store would open to shoppers in late summer/autumn of 2005, bringing with it 350 new jobs."

But TK Maxx bosses were remaining tight-lipped about a new store. A spokesman said: "As far as I am aware we haven't signed up for anything in Leyland at the moment."

The American discount designer store, which has an outlet in Preston's Fishergate Centre, sells cut-price clothes and accessories.

Argos bosses were also sitting firmly on the fence. A spokesman said: "We can't confirm anything at this stage but we do know there is a requirement for a site in that area.

"We currently have two opportunities in the area and we are in negotiations about both at the moment."

South Ribble MP David Borrow said councillors would have to think very carefully about the application: "There is a shortage of good industrial employment land in South Ribble and this land has already been earmarked for industry.

"The councillors will have to be very careful before making any decision to release industrial land for retail use.

"But it is positive that shops like this would want to come to South Ribble and it shows that the borough is an expanding hot spot within Lancashire."

Liberal Democrat councillor for Farington Mark Alcock said: "Obviously at the moment this is a brownfield site and it will be a shame if it cannot be used for industry.

"But we lost 432 jobs when Albion Automotives closed and if the new development goes ahead and creates 500 jobs, then that is good news.

"There are many issues that need to be addressed as the application goes through the planning process.

"It could create a lot of traffic, as we have seen with the Tesco store in Leyland, and potential problems will have to be looked at carefully."

Councillor Tom Hanson, planning and regeneration portfolio holder, said: "Obviously the application will have to go through the normal planning process and the impact it will have on Leyland will, of course, have to be taken into consideration."

Members of the public have been invited to view the plans and question a team of retail specialists at Farington Group's offices on the Farington Business Park between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday February 26.

The approach comes just days after councillors granted permission for a new Aldi store in Leyland town centre.

Despite initial complaints from nearby residents about the development of the discount supermarket, on the former Leyland Garage site in Westgate, no householders objected to the proposals at the planning committee meeting.

The new supermarket, just round the corner from the town's Tesco Extra supermarket, is expected to create up to 100 jobs and is likely to be up and running within the next two years.

What do you think about the plans? Write to Letters Page, The Citizen, 3 Winckley Court, Chapel Street, Preston, PR1 8BU or email gellis@prestoncitizen.co.uk