A state-of-the-art sports dome could be built at a Keighley district secondary school.

South Craven School, in Cross Hills, wants to construct the European-style multi-purpose air dome over space currently occupied by four tennis courts.

And with money already in place, it just needs the planning go-ahead from Craven District Council.

Letters have been sent to nearby residents this week informing them of the plan, and negotiations are underway with potential partners to determine what sort of sport would take place in the new facility.

Headteacher Dr Andrew Cummings said the beauty of the domes – which are used widely across Europe – are that they cost far less than a conventional building and take just two weeks to construct.

And it would mean the school – and its partner primary schools – would be able to include sport in their timetables all year round.

Dr Cummings said the facility would also be used by the wider community.

In addition to sport, the dome could also be used for assemblies, presentations and other school and community events.

“We would never have had so much indoor space,” added Dr Cummings.

If allowed, the space would be greater than that of Headingley’s indoor cricket centre, and would be the first air dome of its kind in Craven.

Representatives from the school have been on a fact-finding mission to the DUOL factory in Slovenia, which has been making the domes for more than 20 years.

The school learned about the structures from the Lancashire company that has already built a steel-framed sports hall at the school and which has acquired the franchise for DUOL in this country.

Instead of steel frames, the domes are supported by air and are typically used across Europe for recreation and sport, such as basketball and volleyball. In some countries, they are dismantled when the weather is better.