BOSSES of the two firms involved in the development at the site of a former brewery depot believe a "huge jobs boost" will be introduced to the area.

Stoford Developments and Oxenwood Real Estate have announced plans to transform the site of the former Carlsberg brewery at Stone Cross Park in Golborne.

Two planning applications for the Yew Tree Way site have been submitted to Wigan Council.

The first application involves the refurbishment and proposed 10,000 sq ft single-storey extension to provide a 136,000 sq ft warehouse.

The second proposal is a new build 72,500 sq ft warehouse to the south of the existing building.

The depot has been empty since it was closed last February after being open for 20 years.

Stoford Developments director Tony Nash said: "We expect the scheme to provide a huge boost to the local jobs market, delivering significant investment in the borough's economy.

“Stone Cross is a prime logistics location with a lack of supply of good quality and much-needed employment accommodation.

"The site is well established, already housing an enviable line up of well-respected tenants.

“Our development of one unit and the refurbishment and extension of the other will offer potential occupiers a choice of two high specification industrial/warehouse units with outstanding motorway connectivity to the north west and national networks.

“The high design quality of these developments allied to the lack of available stock in the area is likely to result in considerable demand."

The scheme is the first in the companies' partnership.

Co-founder of Oxenwood Real Estate Stewart Little said: “The purchase and the partnership with Stoford is a natural extension of our strategy within logistics as we look to recycle the proceeds of the successful sales undertaken earlier this year.

"Within markets where we see strong occupational demand, we will build as well as buy and look for similar opportunities in 2019."

Carlsberg's depot was one of eight in the country the company closed in a short period of time after deliveries by the brewery were outsourced to DHL Tradeteam.

Last February, around 150 draymen, warehouse and office staff were led to the nearby Stonecross Table Table pub restaurant by their colleague John Imrie, who played the bagpipes on the way.

Inside, the workers had a final drink together.