PLANS to build a new football academy as part of the regeneration of Horsfall Stadium have been approved.

Bradford Park Avenue revealed plans to build facilities for a sports academy at the stadium earlier this year, and the development, comprising a new classroom and a new club shop, has now been approved by Bradford Council.

The club set up its football academy in 2016 in partnership with Grange Technology College, and earlier this year announced that it intended to move the facilities closer to its grounds.

The club hopes to have the facilities up and running by September.

The proposed development of the grounds will eventually include a new artificial turf pitch, improved vehicular access and car parking, athletic facilities and a jogging track and improved training pitches.