The Greater Dogsthorpe Partnership (GDP) will use the money received from the East of England Development Agency's Investing in Communities fund to create a centre for community use.

It will be based on the site of the former John Mansfield School.

The school was closed as part of Peterborough City Council's Secondary Schools Review, and the bulk of the site is now earmarked for two developments, each consisting of about 150 flats and houses.

The new centre, to be known as the John Mansfield Centre, will occupy 1.8 acres of the 10.5-acre school site, which will include the existing information technology suite and some of the former art rooms.

The school's arts block, with its sprung floor, will also be retained and run commercially by a group to provide dance and performance arts classes, but will be available for community use, probably, in the evenings.

Facilities at the centre are expected to include:

n A police centre, where neighbourhood officers will be based.

n A vocational training area, where the city's adult education college will provide a range of training, in subjects such as such as car mechanics and hairdressing.

n A community café, where people can meet and greet.

Neighbourhood director of the GDP Graeme Clark said: "The cash amount may be £1.35 million, but for the residents of greater Dogsthorpe, it is priceless.

"It is not about the money, it is about the opportunities the centre can now provide for people."

Mr Clark explained that residents had formed a pressure group some years ago and had lobbied for a centre for community use on the John Mansfield Site when the school closed.

He said: "When the GDP came along, we backed it and made a very strong case for it in conjunction with the city council.

"As a result, part of the site will be retained for community use.

"Local people want to see the school used for police and vocational courses, and this is what it will be used for."

Barbara Minns, one of the original group which campaigned to keep part of the school for community use, said: "The money is brilliant.