Sunderland says the academy will benefit all of the North East

Sunderland Football Club wants to extend its Academy of Light and associated training facilities to land at Whitburn Moor in South Tyneside.

The club, which has been relegated from the Premier League, says the academy is vital to its continued growth.

Counsel for the club, John Steel, has told the inspector that the benefits to the club and the area would far outweigh any planning concerns if the scheme was approved.

But Cliff Ayton, of South Tyneside council, is due to outline the council's objections at the hearing on Wednesday.

He said the plans are not appropriate on green belt at Whitburn Moor between Sunderland and South Shields.

'Massive structure'

Mr Ayton said: "I think the council's basic case is the impact these developments would have on the openness of the green belt.

"The barn in particular is an absolutely massive structure.

"When you add to that the groundsman's store and a security fence around the entire site, it will effectively destroy what is a very, very narrow section of green belt land."

Sunderland won an initial public inquiry in 1999, when the first phase of the academy was built.

Some local people who live nearby formed an action group to oppose the plans which they say are not suitable for green-belt land.

But the club says previous work at Whitburn Moor show that the quality of the development would be in line with its surroundings.

The inquiry is being held at the Chuter Ede Education centre in South Shields.