The former Bickershaw Colliery site near Leigh, Lancashire, is set to be transformed as part of a major Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) scheme designed to regenerate the UK's coalfield communities.

Construction work on a new spine road into the site and the remediation of land in preparation for the development of the former coalfield is set to get underway after the HCA agreed to release £19.14m funding for the project. Bickershaw South - the first phase of development plans - is set to include a 40-berth canal boat marina, 650 new homes and 2,750sq m (29,601sq ft) of employment space, incorporating food and drink outlets.

Future stages for the regeneration of the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA)-owned site could include the creation of a new country park, an 18-hole golf course, a driving range and an outdoor activity centre at Bickershaw North. Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, said: "With the release of this funding, we will be able to fully remediate the site and create an attractive prospect at Bickershaw for future private investors."

Wigan Council's director of environmental services, Martin Kimber, added: "The first phase will create a vibrant economic zone and in these difficult times it is right that this area has been given priority. In the fullness of time it will be followed by a magnificent country park that will form the unofficial centre for the much bigger 'Greenheart' project. "While we accept that funding is not available currently to complete both phases of the scheme due to the current economic climate, we want to reassure people we have not abandoned the plans."