Bradford leisure centre plans have been formally approved.

Bradford Council has approved plans for a new Squire Lane sports and leisure centre that includes two pools, a gym and studio space. The project is mostly funded by £20m of Levelling Up money and will move into a detailed procurement stage.

Plans for a new state-of-the-art sports and leisure centre at Squire Lane in Bradford have been formally approved. The council-led project follows extensive public consultation. It proposes a 25m pool with six lanes, a shorter learners' pool, a gym and studio space. The council said most funding will come from £20m of Levelling Up money and that the overall budget the council is working to is £27.9m. Key details: - Planning approval has been granted for the Squire Lane Sports & Leisure facility. - The design includes a 25m, six-lane pool, a shorter learners' pool, a gym and studio space. - The council says most funding is provided by £20m of Levelling Up money and the working budget is £27.9m. - Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said the next stage is a detailed assessment of construction costs and future running costs alongside a procurement process. - The project was first proposed about a decade ago, and the council said site clearance will take place in the coming months ahead of works starting next year. Summary: Planning approval moves the project closer to construction while the council continues to review costs. The immediate next steps are a detailed procurement process, assessments of construction and running costs, site clearance in the coming months and preparation for works to begin next year. The funding arrangements and overall budget will continue to be reviewed as the project develops.