AMBITIOUS plans for a £2.5 million "community sports village" on the site of a former Bradford secondary school have been officially unveiled.
Bradford Council has submitted proposals to develop the former Wyke Manor School on Wilson Road, Wyke, into a 140,000 square metre multi-sports facility.
The authority is working with Sport England, British Cycling, and the Football Foundation to develop the plans, which councillors said would be a "great asset" to the area.
The Council's design statement for the project reads: "Being an ex-high school, the site lends itself to a sports use development, primarily aimed at the residential areas and the schools in the surrounding area.
"There is currently a 'health drive' throughout Yorkshire and the UK as a whole, with a particular focus on cycling, field sports, swimming, and gym-based fitness.
"The scale of the new structure is such that it will stand out from its surroundings by virtue of its intended use, but will not overpower the existing local residential environment."
Alongside an indoor sports hall, the plans add provision for various outdoor sports, including a dedicated cycle track and mini velodrome.
Phil Barker, Bradford Council's assistant director for Sport and Culture, said: "This is an initial planning application and we are currently working with Sport England, British Cycling, The Football Foundation and local councillors to progress the project.
"The final extent of the project will depend on the levels of funding allocated by partner organisations.
"We hope to develop a community-managed hub which will have junior rugby league on the site, as well as bringing Wyke-based junior football clubs back into the village.
"We are also considering a closed-loop cycle track and a small indoor sports hall."
Councillor David Warburton, (Lab, Wyke), said all three ward councillors had worked together to develop the site since Wyke Manor was replaced by the £22 million Appleton Academy in 2012.
"We have been looking at different funding streams, and officers are now at the point they feel we are very close to agreements that could move things forward," he said.
"We’ve had consultations with the local community, and they are very supportive.
"There are a few hopeful funders on board with this site, including the Rugby Football League, The Football Foundation, and British Cycling.
"There are very few sporting buildings or facilities in the area, so it is important to push this forward.
"If it goes through planning quickly, then work on the site could start in the Spring.
"The partners will fully commit when planning permission is in place."
Councillor David Robinson (Independent, Wyke) added: "It has taken a while to get to this stage, but it will be a tremendous development.
"We already had the sports hall there, so the idea for a sports village came from there.
"It has been a long, hard journey, and funding is always the issue.
"It will be a real multi-purpose facility, which will be a great asset to both Wyke and Bradford South as a whole."
The application is open to public comments until March 4.
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