THE future of a century-old bowling club in Newton-Le-Willows has been secured for at least another four years after a deal was struck with housing executives as part of a £100 million urban village development.

As reported in the Star in August, Vulcan Bowling Club feared it could lose the site it currently occupies, which was previously home to the now defunct Vulcan Foundry locomotive builders as their lease had come to an end and no terms had been formally agreed.

Now developer St Modwen has been granted planning permission for the second phase of the massive project.

Working with Persimmon Homes, the plans include 282 new homes and an 18,000 sq ft food retail unit on Wargrave Road.

Persimmon will build family homes ranging from two, three and four-bedroom properties on an 11.46- acre plot, and will join Jones Homes, which delivered the first phase of work on site.

The existing Vulcan Bowling Club, which this year celebrated its centenary, and the Vulcan Rifle Club have also been granted lease extensions until 2016.

Nick Whittingham, land director at St Modwen, said: “The start of the second phase at the Vulcan Village is an important step forward for this scheme.

“The project will deliver much-needed housing and amenities to the local area, and we are working closely with Jones, Persimmon and St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council to ensure it meets the needs of the community.

“As part of the scheme we have a commitment to provide sports and leisure facilities for the community, and so we are pleased to extend the leases of the Vulcan Bowling Club and Vulcan Rifle Club until 2016.”

The 50-acre site, where rail locomotives were once built, will include a total of 630 homes, retail and community facilities once complete.