Minister for Sport Richard Caborn was visiting Odsal Stadium today to be briefed about the multi-million pound plans for it.

The developers of the £60 million scheme - Horsforth-based Stirling Capitol and its partner Tesco - were giving a presentation, showing how the transformed stadium will look, during the Minister's visit to the home of Bradford Bulls.

The visit comes as the final touches are being put to a planning application to Bradford Council by Stirling Capitol. It is expected to be heard in the autumn.

The developers say a start date for the scheme depends on the planning process.

The top rugby league club has temporarily transferred to Valley Parade, the home of Bradford City Football Club, and expects to go back to a world-class stadium at Odsal by 2003.

The 26,000-seater development would also include a Tesco superstore, hotel, restaurants and leisure facilities.

Because the development includes an out-of-town supermarket, the plan is likely to go to the Government for the final decision.

The Minister was in Bradford as part of a nationwide tour based on sport-action zones.

But he expressed strong interest in the ambitious scheme, which follows years of crashed dreams for Odsal.

In 1993 a company headed by John Garside was picked by Bradford Council to develop a £200million superdome at Odsal.

But five years ago the scheme collapsed and the Council was left to find another developer.

Progress was vital because the Bulls needed to reach the stringent requirements to play in the Super League.

Tesco will be the anchor tenant at Odsal but the developers say they are also in talks with a number of companies interested in the development.

Today, Martin Croxon, managing director of Stirling Capitol, said the visit was a wonderful opportunity to put the plans to the Minister..

"It is a truly massive regeneration scheme which is important to the whole of Bradford as well as the region," he said.

Tesco's consultant Gary Cartnell added: "We are absolutely delighted to be able to brief a senior minister about the scheme and it is the first of a number of meetings we expect to have over the next few months.

"It is a very important project which is going to do a lot of good, not just for Bradford, but the whole region."