Network Rail is building the station, which will include a park-and-ride facility, on land between Dawson Lane and Euxton Lane in Buckshaw Village between Chorley and Leyland.

The project was given provisional planning permission in 1999 and gained full permission at a meeting of last week's development control committee at Chorley Council.

Vice chairman of planning, Coun Geoffrey Russell, said: "We are looking forward to it going ahead. We are encouraged by the scale of investment in Buckshaw Village. I believe it's several million pounds."

Buckshaw Village councillor Mark Perks added: "A railway station is absolutely vital for the whole Buckshaw Village site.

"People were promised a good pubic transport network and the railway station was an integral part of that.

"Work should start next year although there are still a few issues to resolve."

The scheme consists of a station building, two platforms, pedestrian bridge over the railway line, parking facilities on either side of the railway and an access road attached to the southern commercial loop road.

The new station building will be able to cope with around 1,400 passengers a day and will be operated by the Northern Train Company.

It will have two floors. At ground floor level there will be a booking hall, ticket office, store, staff facilities and toilets.

The mezzanine floor will include a mechanical plant room, electrical plant room and IT room.

The car park on the northern side of the railway will provide 299 spaces with an additional 16 disabled spaces. There will be 10 motorcycle parking spaces and parking for 50 cycles.

On the southern side of the railway there are plans for 96 car parking spaces with 10 disabled spaces.

However, this parking will not be provided initially and its future use will depend on the popularity of the station.

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