Work is poised to start on a £2 million football complex near Carlisle city centre that will create 20 jobs.

Plans have been approved for the firm SoccerWorld to revamp land formerly housing a gasworks to develop a centre including nine all-weather floodlit pitches and a pavillion containing changing rooms and a sports bar.

SoccerWorld currently runs sports centres in Glasgow, Newcastle and Dundee.

Barry McDermott, director at SoccerWorld, said the expansion was making it “a very exciting time”.

“We should be able to start work on the site either in late May or early June,” he said.

The centre, which is opposite the refuse and recycling centre at Bousteads Grassing, will have eight five-a-side pitches and one seven-a-side.

Mr McDermott said: “We hope to open in August or September and we will create about 20 new jobs.”

Options already available in Carlisle to recreational footballers include at the Richard Rose Central Academy and at Caldew School at Dalston. The Neil Centre, at Brunton Park, is currently closed following last December’s floods.

The opening of SoccerWorld is a massive investment that will shake up the city’s sporting set-up.

The pavilion will feature a sports bar with Sky Sports and male and female changing rooms. There will also be car parking on site. The development includes plans for a children’s party room.

At their other centres they also offer Bubble Football – a cross between traditional five-a-side football and zorbing.

The jobs created include management jobs, reception jobs, bar jobs and maintenance jobs.

Mr McDermott said: “We will be launching leagues in Carlisle when we are up and running and taking casual bookings too.”

The firm was initially attracted to the site because of its close proximity to the city centre and the railway station.