The WRU hopes to develop the stars of the future

The WRU's plans for the national rugby academy, which will include a housing scheme and business park, have been approved by the Welsh assembly.

But there has been fierce opposition to the plans with campaigners claiming the scheme will cause damage to the local environment at Island Farm, near Bridgend, south Wales.

One opponent to the plans the South Wales West Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black said "the loss grade two agricultural land should have been enough to have forced a call-in by the assembly government".

Support for Welsh rugby is being used to transform a green-field site Tory AM Alun Cairns

And Anne Morgan of the Island Farm Action Group added: "The council must give up ownership of the land and we have to be satisfied the electors will get a good deal.

"We can't understand why it hasn't been called in (by the assembly).

Last month, Bridgend county councillors approved the proposal sending it to the Welsh assembly for further scrutiny.

The assembly has now ruled that no public inquiry will take place into the project.

The plans have attracted controversy with protestors claiming council tax payers would have to pay for road improvements.

Environmentalists also complained the proposal could damage wildlife.

Bridgend Council's planning committee originally rejected the scheme in December.

But the plan was submitted, unchanged, in January and the committee - later expanded to comprise all council members - approved it in April before the plans were handed to the assembly.

The plans have faced opposition in the Bridgend area

Bridgend Council leader Jeff Jones said he was delighted the plans had finally been approved.

"There was no planning reason for this scheme not to go ahead," he added.

"I just can't wait for it so we can have a good Welsh team in the future, 200 quality houses and put Bridgend on the map."

But Conservative Assembly Member for South West Wales, Alun Cairns, said the fight to stop the scheme was not yet over.

'Historic value'

He added: "More than 5,000 local residents are against it.

"It will transform a green-field site with historic value including a 12th-century church and 15th-century pottery.

"It's not over yet, there are still hurdles (for the plan) to overcome.

"(Building) a rugby academy is right, but at the appropriate site.

"Support for Welsh rugby is being used to transform a green-field site."

The new academy will feature an indoor arena, weight training facilities, four rugby pitches, an Astroturf surface and a 400m running track.

It will be used by all Welsh representative squads.

WRU director of rugby Terry Cobner said: "We are extremely pleased with the news we received from the Welsh Assembly which puts a final seal of approval on this project.

"The national academy, underpinned by five regional academies, will ensure that our best youngsters have training facilities equal to, if not better than, any in the world."