A vision of a centre promoting good health across a Bradford estate is to become reality thanks to a £1 million National Lottery handout.

Residents of Allerton and Lower Grange have been awarded the cash to build a new healthy living centre in the middle of the Allerton estate in Wanstead Crescent.

Called Caf West, it will provide a range of new services to residents, including a community caf, a purpose-built crche, information technology suite and a "jitter room", to be used for tea dances and social events. Other resources will include art and drama sessions, massage, training and a range of free advice sessions.

Resident Jacqui Crane, a member of Saffron Dean Community Association which prepared the bid, said: "This is great news for Allerton and Lower Grange and shows that both residents and agencies have a real belief in the area. People have been working to achieve many things for such a long time and at last things are starting to come together."

The cash has been awarded from a £300 million lottery fund, distributed by the New Opportunities fund. Groups were invited to bid for the money by submitting projects that addressed ill-health in the community. The cash is targeted at deprived areas and those in poor health.

The successful bid, which has a total of 36 signatories from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, has taken two and a half years to prepare and faced stiff competition from across the country.

As well as improved health and community facilities, the success of the bid will mean employment, business and volunteer opportunities for members of the local community.

Bryan Millar, deputy chief executive of Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, said he was delighted with the cash award. "This is excellent news for the local community, the PCT and all of its partners and is just reward for all the hard work that has been put into developing this proposal."

Paul Mawson, Healthy Living Centre Co-ordinator, said: "This news is reward for all the hard work for the people who live and work in Allerton and Lower Grange and who have been involved in this project."

A full round of detailed information sessions will take place over the next few months. Any residents wanting more information can contact Lynn Bradley on 01274 751388 or Pauline Bland and Tracy Higgins on 01274 751009.