THIS is the layout of the massive new £7 million sports complex proposed for the outskirts of York.

If approved, it would be a major boost to hundreds of sportsmen and women who feared they would be left with nowhere to play when the Boroughbridge Road-based Civil Service Sports Club closes in April. The land - owned by Harrison Developments - is situated behind Ikon & Diva nightclubs on the Clifton Moor estate.

The sports club, which has been in existence for 50 years, has nearly 1,000 Civil Service, Post Office and BT members, but bosses believe this could increase by more than 15,000 if the plan goes ahead.

Ray Haskell, estate manager of the Civil Service Sports Council, has worked for more than two years to come up with an alternative to their site at Boroughbridge Road.

He says the complex could be built within nine months if the planning application was successful.

"It would be a massive improvement on the facilities at the current site," said Mr Haskell.

Secretary Tony Tate said the development could be the dawn of a new era for the club. "We're really excited about it," he said.

The complex, which would be open to the public and free to local schools during off-peak hours, includes 12 all-weather five-a-side football pitches and two full-size pitches, a gymnasium, swimming pool, four tennis courts, cricket square, along with a bar and bistro.

Ian MacAndrew, associate director of Harrison Developments, which is submitting a planning application within the next few months, said: "It's an absolutely ideal use for this site.

"We've spoken to the council planners about it and there are obviously a number of issues for us to address."

Club steward Terry Kelly, who will be out of work when the existing club closes, said he hoped to apply for a job if the plan got the go-ahead.

"This is very exciting," he said. "It sounds a lot better than the current site."

A spokesman for City of York Council said: "Clearly we would have to consider any such application against the council's planning policies and the land in that area is currently allocated for employment rather than leisure use.

"Whether such a development will be capable of providing the quality and density of employment we require will be a key consideration."

Updated: 10:51 Saturday, January 18, 2003