Plans are set to be submitted to Wakefield Council for a new 12,000-capacity community stadium in West Yorkshire, which will become the home of the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats rugby league team.

The proposals were unveiled by the chair of the Wakefield and District Community Trust, Sir Rodney Walker, on 21 December and will see the stadium form part of a wider mixed-use scheme near to Junction 30 of the M62. Although the stadium will initially be capable of accommodating 12,000 spectators, it will have the potential to expand to a capacity of 15,000 people and will replace the Wildcats' current Belle Vue ground, which no longer meets minimum requirements that form part of the Super League's licence criteria.

Working in partnership with Wakefield Council and developer Yorkcourt Properties, the club also hopes a local college or university will establish a sports science department at the venue. Walker said: "The early commitment from the Wildcats to support this scheme, combined with encouragement from a wide range of people and organisations from throughout the district, have provided the impetus which has made this announcement possible."

Yorkcourt Properties' managing director, Colin Mackie, added: "The scheme represents the result of close co-operation between various sectors which, if approved, will provide fantastic new facilities for the whole community. "Due in no small part to the enthusiasm of all the parties involved, we are lodging this planning application with great expectation and we aim to utilise all the resources and energy we can generate to make Newmarket a reality."

Image: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats is set to move away from its current Belle Vue home