ALTRINCHAM'S long-awaited £70m Altair development has received a boost after Trafford Council and developer Nikal signed a development agreement for the scheme.

Council chiefs claim this will help to kickstart the plans.

The developer is in talks with planners to secure detailed planning permission - and work on it could start later this year or early next year.

A leisure, housing and office scheme is proposed for a 4.5 acre site in between Tesco and Altrincham Leisure Centre. It comprises a new leisure centre, a range of restaurants, coffee shops and cafes, offices, flats, the retention of the ice rink and car parking.

Town hall bosses reckon the scheme will complement other developments taking shape in Altrincham - including a a multi-million pound scheme to revamp the public realm including new paving to improve the look and flow of the town.

Altrincham Interchange has been redeveloped and the town's new hospital is due to open.

Helen Jones, deputy chief executive at Trafford Council, said of the progress on Altair: "This is fantastic news and is something that really does give a huge boost to residents, business and visitors to Altrincham town centre.

"To have such a high quality addition to the already established developments will further improve the opportunities the town centre offers for shoppers and visitors from near and far.

"The transformation which is taking place in Altrincham right in front of our eyes is so exciting and is destined to secure Altrincham's future prosperity and its place as one of the region's top town centres."

Nick Payne, managing director of Nikal, said: “Our vision for Altair can now be delivered.

“Our first phase will bring forward a dramatic new building of apartments and a new entrance to the ice rink opposite Tesco on Moss Lane.

“We are aiming to have detailed planning consent before the end of this year. The completion of the interchange this year has been a critical ingredient to our overall plans.”

The proposed Altair development was first unveiled in 2006.