ALMOST 100 jobs could be created if the Middlebrook Masterplan is given the go ahead.

Bolton Arena’s managing director, Paul Bartle, says the planned £100 million sport and education project is key to the venue’s continued success.

The Bolton News exclusively revealed in November how the arena and Burnden Leisure, the company which owns Bolton Wanderers, had drawn up ambitious plans spanning both sites and surrounding land.

It would see the construction of a free school, a row of seven-storey office buildings and new sport pitches.

The formal period of consultation for the scheme has now been completed and the plans submitted to Bolton Council, with a decision expected in April or May.

Mr Bartle said: “It is a very exciting plan and partnership.

“We have had 11 good years here and we are keen to continue developing and expanding what we can offer — not only to our elite sportsmen and women, but also to the community as a whole.

“The masterplan gives us access to allow us to develop more high quality facilities, and in turn we can offer more participation to community sports clubs, associations, and individuals.”

The arena — which saw a million visitors last year and is run by a not-for-profit charitable trust — is held as a national benchmark of excellence by the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport’s governing body.

If given the go ahead, the project could be up and running as early as mid-2015.

Mr Bartle said the scheme will almost double the arena’s 100-strong workforce, as well as increase its turnover from £2 million to £4 million — with any excess cash being ploughed back into facilities.

The plans would also double the size of the indoor covered section of the arena.

Mr Bartle said: “We have tennis players coming here from as far as Cumbria and Yorkshire. We’ve got three players who are among the top two or three in their age group in the country and since the Olympics, demand for our gymnastics sessions have also increased by 30 per cent.

“We have been trying to access greater funding for the last four years.

“The partnership with Burnden Leisure gives us that extra leverage — that’s important to us as we look to develop the arena further.”