PLANS for 1,200 homes, two new schools and enough employment space to create thousands of new jobs on the outskirts of Weston have been submitted this week.

Developer St Modwen and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have unveiled the key phase of their phased £400million redevelopment of the former RAF Locking camp.

The Locking Parklands scheme is already home to 100 new houses and a flagship office development, with work now under way on a second phase of 150 homes.

However, this latest application is the cornerstone of the 200-acre development, and is touted as ‘a market-leading mixed-use development where homes, jobs and leisure integrate to create a vibrant, exciting and sustainable community’.

St Modwen’s South West regional director Rupert Joseland said: “The latest proposals for Locking Parklands will enable us to deliver a truly mixed-use new community for Weston.

“The site was recently voted as one of the top three housing schemes in the UK and the next phase will build on that success to create employment space, jobs and affordable housing for the people of Weston.”

If approved, this third phase will include some 650,000sq ft of commercial space, including a 30,000sq ft innovation centre.

That centre alone is expected to become home to a number of small business and accommodate up to 2,000 new jobs.

The plans also include proposals for both secondary and primary school, plus 80 acres of landscaped open space and a new district centre, which will include a retail high street and additional leisure and community facilities.

Jay Lambe, the HCA’s area manager, says the fact that 95 per cent of completed homes in the development’s first phase have already been sold, points to a thriving future for the Parklands site.

He said: “Locking Parklands has been a resounding success, with stunning new homes and business space already created and proving popular.

“This is an exciting time for Locking Parklands, with people starting to see the benefits of our investment and partners’ work in terms of the homes and opportunities that are being created here.

“I look forward to seeing the development continue to succeed.”

North Somerset Council will make a decision on the application later this year.