A long-awaited new building for a Bradford school is to be built on inner-city allotments.

Members of Bradford Council's Bradford Area Planning Panel rejected an alternative site at popular West Park for St Philip's School, Girlington, to the delight of some campaigners.

But other residents argued Whetley Grove allotments were also not suitable and would mean the loss of a valuable amenity.

Councillors approved an outline application to rebuild the school on the allotments at Fairbank Road. They rejected plans to build on a recreation area at West Park Road, which had attracted 241 letters of objection and a petition with 183 signatures.

Planning officers had recommended that site was refused because it was designated as a playing field and no alternative had been shown.

The allotments site was recommended for approval as council policy said allotments could normally be developed if "alternative provision can be made or community support is negligible."

The meeting heard 15 out of 52 allotments, or 29 per cent, were occupied and there were alternative sites nearby where existing tenants could be accommodated.

The Council received 41 letters of objection to the plans and one objector, Colin Mennell, told the meeting it would mean the loss of a community amenity.

"I ask you to think very seriously about looking at other areas within the ward," he told councillors.

Objector Graham Sheard said he had been a tenant on the allotments for eight years and they represented rare green space in an inner-city area.

He argued Council policy said steps should be taken to encourage their use before considering alternative uses of the land.

Mr Sheard said the site was a habitat for wildlife and the development would increase noise pollution and traffic.

"The people of Bradford need their green spaces and there are few of them left," he said.

Councillor Sajawal Hussain (Lab, University) said there could be room for allotments on the site along with the school.

He said the community on Fairbank Road was overjoyed the site was to be developed.

Panel chairman Councillor Clive Richardson (Con, Thornton) said they understood Mr Sheard's objections.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment, said a lot of searching had taken place.

"I believe this is virtually the only alternative," she said.

Leaders at the school - whose buildings have been labelled "probably the worst in the country" - have been trying to move for 18 years.

The school's chairman of governors, the Reverend Tony Tooby, said after the meeting that the governing body would meet to decide how to move forward.

He said the governors' preferred site was the park but anything would be better than the current situation.

"We have been waiting 18 years for a new school and I won't believe it until we have built the school and moved in," he said.