Salford City Reds rugby league team has secured a deal that will enable it to use a new £26m community stadium at Barton-upon-Irwell as its home ground.

The Super League club has reached agreement with a joint venture between Salford City Council (SCC) and developer Peel to play at the venue, which is due to open in 2012. Meanwhile, construction work on the AFL Architects-designed venue is to start in December after The Buckingham Group also exchanged contracts with the joint venture. Drivas Jonas Deloitte is project manager.

Preparatory work is now complete, with the proposed stadium to boast an initial capacity of 12,000 before being increased to 20,000 in future years. Community sports pitches will also be provided. SCC leader John Merry said: "The stadium will be another landmark development for Salford that will benefit the economy and the community who will have access to use its quality facilities."

Peel propety director Mike Butterworth added: "It will be great to see stadium going up now that the ground preparation works have been completed, and to see Salford City Reds play at the stadium."