PLANS to build an "urban cricket hub" at a Bradford leisure centre have been approved.

The £1.8 million centre would be built at Parkside Sports Centre in West Bowling and would be just the second “urban cricket centre” in the country.

First announced earlier this year, the facility has been developed through a partnership beteween the English Cricket Board and Bradford Trident Council.

It would be built next to the existing sports hall and include two cricket nets in a multi-use hall. The existing centre will be refurbished and expanded to create a new entrance, cafe and changing facilities alongside a 30 station fitness suite.

It is part of a push by the ECB to get more people of a South Asian background into the sport.

As well as creating cricket facilities, the proposals will allow the centre to be used for numerous other sports and activities.

The cricket space will be flexible, allowing it to also be used for dance and aerobic exercise.

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Funding will come from sources including the ECB and Sport England.

An application for the works and the large, contemporary extension to the building, has now been approved by Bradford Council.

Approving the application, planning officers said: "The materials of the extension will be contemporary in comparison to the brick of the existing building, but this will not necessarily be detrimental to visual amenity. Instead it is considered to be an example of good design which can be supported by the Council."

The ECB said it hoped the centre would be open by Summer 2022.