Planners have given the go-ahead to build an academy on the site of a secondary school in Allerton, Bradford.

Outline plans to build Rhodesway Academy on the playing fields of Rhodesway Secondary School as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme was approved by Bradford Area Planning Panel today.

The Academy will take 1,400 students and is expected to be built by 2012. Access will be from Rhodesway, south of the entrance to Chapel Grange School.

When the buildings are complete, Chapel Grange will be demolished and children with special needs will be diverted to different schools.

Chapel Grange will reopen as a feeder school to the Academy in the remaining buildings of Rhodesway Secondary School.

About half of the secondary school will be demolished, but the grade II listed main building retained.

A full planning application is expected to be submitted next summer.