Developers behind a scheme set to bring thousands of jobs to Bradford will learn today if their plans have been successful.

Bradford Area Planning Panel has been advised to give the go-ahead for the ProLogis bid on the site of the former West Bowling Golf Club on Rooley Lane.

And members of Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee has also been recommended to approve the business park when it meets later in the day. If passed the development will need to go to Government for final approval.

ProLogis, a US firm, wants to create a range of units suitable for small to medium-sized businesses at the 90 acre site.

The amended plans also include space for a warehouse of up to 54,000 sq m which Marks & Spencer wants to move into, creating 2,500 jobs.

ProLogis bosses have said that in addition to the M&S jobs, an extra 500 to 1,000 could be created across the site.

The application also proposes 145 homes on the north-eastern corner of the site near existing housing.

A report to the committees states: "ProLogis has clearly demonstrated the benefits of a modern employment park and how such a development would provide economic benefits to the local economy of south Bradford and go a long way to the alleviation of the problems of social deprivation in this part of the city.

"It is important the Council supports this development."

There have been an equal number of letters for and against the scheme.

Many of the objections relate to traffic and pedestrian matters, while the comments in support say it could provide new business opportunities and it is strategically placed for the motorway network.

Conditions expected to be attached to any approved plans include a contribution of £132,000 to off-site recreational space, £250,000 to fund affordable housing on sites in the city, £284,200 for additional primary school educational resources, a contribution of £16,000 for future traffic control measures on Rooley Lane, and that previous permission to remove any unsympathetic alterations and extensions to the former clubhouse, which is a grade II* listed building, be implemented before any buildings in that zone are used.

The decision will have to be ratified by the Government as it is a departure from the Council's adopted Unitary Development Plan.

In an earlier report Matthew Byrom, vice-president of ProLogis, told the T&A the Rooley Lane development is the biggest the company has ever undertaken.

He said of M&S's decision: "They needed to find a location which would allow them to service key customers with labour in the catchment area. Bradford just ticked all the boxes." If approved, work could start in March, with the site functional by 2009.