Doncaster Council has announced that it has sold off the former Earth Centre attraction site in Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, to educational services provider Kingswood.

Kingswood is now planning a multi-million pound transformation of the site, which will see a flagship activity centre for schoolchildren established.

The sale of the site is subject to planning permission, although it is hoped the new facility is to offer dedicated apprenticeship schemes for local colleges.

Kingswood is also planning to provide a "substantial subsidy" for local schools in a bid to make the site more accessible to children and young people from Doncaster.

Doncaster mayor Peter Davies said: "[Kingswood's] winning bid represents a unique and natural continuation of the site's heritage as a centre for learning, focused on environmental sustainability and targeting young people."

Jonathan Wood, council cabinet member for business and regeneration, said: "[Kingswood] will run the 50-acre site as a wholly private business, creating jobs and opportunities for local people."

Image: Trevor Willis/geograph.co.uk