Bradford Council’s executive yesterday agreed to give the initial go-ahead to turn a former school site into a Rugby League centre of excellence.

The authority will work to develop a £1.5 million scheme on the former Wyke Manor School campus, with the hope that sports bodies such as the Rugby Football League and Sport England will help to fund two-thirds of the project, leaving the Council contributing just under £500,000.

The site is due to return to local authority control on Friday, following Wyke Manor and High Fernley primary schools being replaced by the Appleton Academy.

The favoured option is to demolish the Wyke Manor school buildings, apart from the sports hall, and redevelop the site for enhanced sport provision.