Building work on a £14 million state-of-the-art sports and science centre for Bradford College students will begin in the new year.

An empty hall of residence will be demolished off Trinity Road to make way for the 32,000 sq metre building.

Construction work on the two-storey complex is set to begin next February, Bradford College bosses announced today.

The building, scheduled to open to staff and students in 2008, will feature fitness and sports science suites, science labs and facilities for the teaching of engineering and construction courses. The new sports facilities will be open to the public.

The project is the first phase of the college's plan to invest up to £60 million on new buildings and move closer to the city centre.

Subsequent phases planned include the demolition of the Westbrook and Randall Well buildings to make way for a new complex nearer the city centre. The college is also planning to use the redeveloped Odeon building as a gateway to its Westbrook campus.

College principal Michele Sutton said she wanted the institution to play an integral role in the regeneration of the city.

She said: "Bradford College is offering its full support to the city's regeneration.

"We know a more inspiring Bradford will help attract more students to the city. We are also fully aware of our role in Bradford's rebirth by providing better learning opportunities in better facilities.

"Our bold ambitions to create a state of the art learning environment will help us become one of the most innovative education providers in the country making Bradford a leader in education."

Mrs Sutton said the new centre would allow students to access state-of-the-art technology.

She said: "It will enable us to have a good mix of students on the site and will provide exciting, new and sustainable features which will be a first for Bradford."

Andy Welsh, the college's director of corporate services, said: "This is incredibly exciting for Bradford College. We are looking forward to making a real contribution to the city centre and the city generally."

College leaders said they were pleased to see an emphasis placed on knowledge and learning in the Valley phase of the Bradford Centre Regeneration masterplan, announced in last week's T&A.

Mrs Sutton said: "A key milestone in this vision has already been achieved with the announcement that plans for the new Odeon development will include college facilities creating a gateway to the city centre and allowing more people access to learning."

Mrs Sutton said the plan to create a park running alongside Bradford Beck, below the college's campus, was also welcome.

She said: "Green, open spaces in and around the college environment will have huge benefits to staff and students using these areas as a retreat from work and study."

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk