KEIGHLEY Cougars have been given approval to build a grandstand that is “substantially smaller” than the club initially planned.

Last year the Cougarmania Foundation, the charity arm of the club, was granted planning permission for a new 2,000 seater stand, and the demolition of the club’s existing stand.

The work would be partially funded by a grant of over £2m from the Government’s Keighley Towns Fund.

Plans for the Rugby League club's site also include new community classrooms, fitness studio and health suite that would be open to the public.

The club hoped the improved facilities at its Hard Ings Road home would help with its goals of ascending to the Super League.

But last year the club was relegated from the Betfred Championship, denting the clubs goal of rising to the top tier.

The club want back to the Council with an application to amend their plans for the site – and build a smaller grandstand.

That request has now been approved by the Council.

Planning officers said: “The proposal would be substantially smaller in scale in comparison to the previous approval. The height would be reduced by 3.4 metres but the design would be similar “The proposal would be less visually prominent when viewed from the surrounding setting and the design would still be complementary to the ground.”