A new secondary academy school in Bradford could create up to 100 jobs and provide new sporting facilities for the surrounding community.

Bradford Council has submitted a planning application for an academy for 1,050 11 to 16-year-olds to be built on playing fields at Lower Fields Primary School, off Fenby Avenue.

Once built, the school would be run by the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, which hopes to have it up and running by September 2015.

The Council says it will help ease the strain on the district’s already overstretched schools system.

The Government is providing £12.5 million towards the building scheme, although Bradford Council has to provide items like fittings and computers. Plans have now been submitted and are open for public comment until mid-January.

A sports hall included in the application would be open outside school hours and include a four-court multi-purpose hall, activity studio, changing rooms and public entrance.

The application explains why the school is needed, saying: “Most local schools are now running at full capacity across the district.

“Over the last few years Bradford Council has been focussed on meeting the need for additional pupil places and 6,500 additional places have been created in primary schools during this period. The need for additional places has now extended to the secondary sector.

“There is a growing young population in Bradford in comparison to other cities nationally and existing secondary schools are no longer able to meet all local needs.”

The school had initially been planned for a site off Douglas Road to the north of Lower Fields school, which was attended by One Direction star Zayn Malik.

But after further investigation the site was deemed unsuitable due to the presence of at least eight disused mineshafts and a former landfill.

Because the school will lose its playing field to the new building, the council will provide it with a replacement field on the Douglas Road site. Early estimates say the school would employ 80 skilled and 20 unskilled staff.

The Venerable Dr David Lee, chairman of the trust, said families from all parts of the community would be welcome. He said: “ This will be the school the entire community needs.