A MULTI-MILLION pound project to house a library, a dentist's surgery and shops on a Hey-sham estate should be up and running next year.

Lancaster City Council's cabinet voted unanimously to act as the accountable body' for the facilities at a meeting on Tuesday.

Lancashire County Council has already set aside £1million for a new state-of-the-art library on the site at Mossgate Park.

It is great news for the scheme, which also includes 400 homes, a police station and facilities for young people.

Last year the blueprint was blocked by the Government when it called in' the plan for review because it conflicted with regional planning guidance.

Planning consent for MAC Construction to continue building houses on the land expired, meaning money made from house sales and destined to be pumped into community facilities was at risk.

The future of the development will now be decided by a public consultation due to take place in January but county councillor Jean Yates says at least half of the development will go ahead regardless of the outcome.

"We are building a new library and a bid has already been submitted for £1million for a Sports Lottery grant," she says.

"This needs to happen because by 2010 there will be 20,000 people in Heysham and we need to cater for them. This will be a unique urban village centre."

An outline application for the neighbourhood centre' which will include the refurbishment of Douglas Park was lodged with city council planners this week.

Coun Cllr Yates says: "The architects have received the design brief and so, by the time a decision is made in January we should be ready to roll full steam ahead."