Planning permission for the Newmarket Stadium in Wakefield has been granted following a lengthy application process.

The 12,000-capacity stadium, which will be a home ground for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats rugby league team, had initially been granted permission in 2010, but when Leeds City Council opposed the decision a planning inquiry was launched.

The resulting Local Development Framework report, released June 2012, addressed the council's concerns, freeing the proposed site from greenbelt status and rejecting claims the stadium would blur district boundaries.

Having received the report, and supplementary information requested as a result, the Secretary of State announced last month he fully approved planning permission for the development.

The stadium is scheduled to be ready in time for the Wildcats' 2015 season and will be owned by the Wakefield & District Community Trust, also providing sporting facilities for the region.