A £1bn scheme which could create 5,000 jobs on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal has been given the green light by planners.

The huge Trafford Waters development proposed by Peel Land and Property has been approved by Trafford council.

It is set to feature 3,000 new flats, nearly one million square feet of shop and office space, a 300 room hotel, a 150 bed care home, and a new primary school next to the Chill Factore.

The site, which will be built on disused land, will be linked to the Trafford Centre by bridge and will have close links to the new Metrolink stop at the shopping centre.

Peel say the development will cater for housing need in the area, and that the school and health and community facilities will make it sustainable.

It is also set to feature four multi-use games areas and children’s play areas, shops and food and drink outlets.

James Whittaker, Peel Land and Property’s group development director, said: “Trafford Waters will bring a unique neighbourhood to Greater Manchester, which will not only provide much-needed residential housing but also office space which will help unlock business and employment opportunities.

“The development will be sustainable and feature cycleways, plenty of landscaped, green spaces and waterways, making it a really attractive place to live, work and play. It will be a high quality development that will feature everything families would expect an established urban community to have and we’re very excited to be bringing this to the people of Trafford.”

The masterplan has been 15 years in the making and finally went before councillors on Thursday.

Cllr Sean Anstee, leader of Trafford Council, said: “Trafford Waters has all of the characteristics to be a model for urban regeneration and the creation of a high quality place that people choose to live and work.

“This sustainable development will bring significant investment into Trafford alongside a further boost for our local economy, already the most resilient in the North West.

“That the application has been granted on the very day final approval has been received to commence construction of the Metrolink Trafford Park line, simply goes to show that where we have a plan for major development, the necessary improvements to public transport and roads alongside new schools and green spaces can be a reality.”