Developers are hoping a contract will be in place by Christmas for the Warren Hall development in Broughton and expect work on site to begin early next year.

Plans for the site in Broughton, which has the potential to create 5,000 jobs, were given the green light in May.

After many years of preparation, the Assembly Government now has outline permission to start detailing plans to build the much-delayed development, which will include a 120-bed hotel and office space.

A spokesman from the Welsh Assembly Government said plans were to seek bids from contractors for work on the access roads.

He said: "We aim to have a contract in place by Christmas to allow a start on site immediately in the New Year."

The Assembly Government was granted conditional planning permission by Flintshire Council in 2005.

This was subject to a planning agreement which required the Assembly Government to draw up a design guide to set a "high standard" for all proposed buildings on the site and to prepare detailed plans for landscaping, and for highway improvements needed to give convenient access to the site.

The original plans were controversial, with some local residents claiming the development would destroy the countryside and lead to traffic chaos.

Assembly Government planners worked with Airbus to ensure that the planned development of the site will not cut across any future developments the company may want to make.

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government previously revealed they are talking to a company interested in taking up a portion of the available office space.

He said at the time: "Having fulfiled the conditions required by the county council, we have now been granted outline permission to proceed with plans to build some 76,000 sq metres (880,000 sq ft) of high quality office space and a 120 bed hotel at the 193 acre site.

"We're already talking to a company interested in taking up some 90,000 sq ft of the office space."