A 20-year plan to deliver homes, jobs, transport infrastructure and community facilities for Warrington has been given the thumbs-up.

It aims to deliver 18,900 new homes and make 362 hectares of employment land available by 2037 and to develop the infrastructure it will need.

The draft local plan will now be at the heart of an eight-week public consultation.

Warrington Borough Council leader Russ Bowden said: 'Everyone who lives and works here will be affected by the plan and what it sets out to achieve – which is a more prosperous future for our borough.

'Now full council has given the go-ahead to consult on our draft Local Plan, we can begin the next important stage of the process, which is talking and listening to the people of Warrington.'