DEVELOPERS have submitted plans to Wigan Council to build 99 houses on Leigh Rugby League ground.

The Hilton Park site, also known as The Coliseum, is the home of Leigh Centurions RLFC and Leigh RMI Football Club.

It has been the home of Leigh RLFC for almost 60 years.

Both clubs are to relocate to a new 10,000 capacity stadium within the Leigh Sports Village which is a joint venture between Wigan Council, Leigh Centurions, Wigan & Leigh College, Greenbank Partnerships, and other educational and sporting organisations.

The Miller Homes plan is a mix of detached, semi-detached, mews and apartments and include 18 two-bedroom, 23 three-bedroom and 58 four-bedroom properties. The application follows a public exhibition where local residents were invited to express their views on the proposed development.

Planning consultant Samuel Stafford of property expert Knight Frank, which is providing planning advice on the project, was pleased with the response to the proposals.

He said: "All the residents who attended the public exhibition agreed that residential development represents the best use of the site once the Centurions and Leigh RMI FC vacate to the Sports Village.

"There was concern from some quarters about access to the proposed development from Chadwick Street, but it was accepted that there is no realistic alternative and that a package of measures to improve existing access arrangements have been agreed with the Council's Highways Department."

Ed Dalton, land manager at Miller Homes, said: "We are always keen to engage with local communities so that our plans can be explained in detail and we can address people's individual concerns.

"Everybody who attended the event appreciated the efforts that are being made to create a scheme that will benefit not only its future residents, but also the wider community."

A decision on the planning application is expected in March.