A new health centre could be part of Bradford Bulls' massive plans to transform the area around Odsal Stadium into a sport and leisure village.

The club says it hopes to include a building - possibly a drop-in centre - with the Department of Health's approval as part of the major overhaul.

If an agreement is reached this would break the existing deadlock over the future of the land on the former Northern View Hospital site which is owned by the department.

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley, said: "Provided they get the best value they have said they are on side with these plans and that is another step forward. We are encouraged by the health authority's response."

The proposals, which include an extra 5,000 seats at Odsal, up to 3,000 parking spaces and a replacement for the Council-owned Richard Dunn sports centre go before the Council's Executive on Tuesday.

If approved, the go-ahead will be given to a full-scale feasibility study. Talks are already underway with Sport England about the funding. Mr Caisley said the plans would not cost the council tax payers of Bradford any money.

He said: "At the end of the day the city would have a state-of- the-art development for use by the community at no extra cost to the ratepayers."

But Councillor Simon Cooke, the Council's executive member for regeneration, said the authority was approaching the meeting with caution and said the plans would have to be financially safe before the Council would commit.

He also said talks with local residents would be key to the progress of the plans.

He said: "We are being very cautious. We have to make sure we get a general benefit for that part of Bradford not just for the rugby club. It has to stack up in financial terms. We do not want to end up with a white elephant. There is a long way to go before we can make any formal commitment."

The Bulls have been in talks with developer Landmark Developments and will start talks with the architects this summer if the outline plans proceed.

It is hoped the new-look stadium would be up and running by 2006.

The club and the DoH had been at loggerheads over the future of the land after an application went in from the Secretary of State to build 150 homes on it. This was rejected by the Bradford Area Planning Panel.

A spokesman for NHS Estates said the Department of Health had been in talks with the club, MPs and the Council over the future of the land.