Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association's (SHFA) plans to build a new £4m sports and community hub on the site of the city's former Westfield School have been approved.

The scheme, which has received the green light from Sheffield City Council, will involve the transformation of the 28-acre (11.3-hectare) site and provide SHFA with a new home.

At present, the site comprises eight poorly-drained pitches and vandalised changing facilities used by more than 20 football and rugby union teams at the weekend.

SHFA's proposals for the site include the creation of a full-size artificial floodlit pitch; five-a-side pitches; and up to eight grass pitches for football, rugby and American Football.

A gym; a jogging and cycle track; archery facilities; a physiotherapy clinic; and community multi-purpose rooms are also proposed, along with a bar with café and changing rooms.

Funding is to be provided by The Football Association, The Football Foundation, Sport England and the Rugby Football Union, as well as capital raised by SHFA.

SHFA chief executive James Hope-Gill said: "Receiving planning permission is a significant step forward and we can now concentrate fully on raising the funding and capital needed to make the project a reality."

It is hoped work will commence in 2012 once funding is finalised, with the site to open in 2013.