MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club has been given planning permission to build Europe's longest golf course and a luxury hotel complex.

The project will see the restoration of the grade II-listed Rockliffe Hall, a former hospital next to the club's training ground at Hurworth Place, near Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council gave the multi-million pound scheme unanimous backing at a planning committee meeting yesterday.

"I think this is an excellent development," said committee member Councillor Paul Baldwin. "This will safeguard and improve the area for many years to come."

The 69-acre site will be redeveloped with earthworks, landscaping and lakes, to form an 18-hole course across 7,785 yards. Driving and chipping ranges will also be created.

An eco-friendly clubhouse is to be built, with a turfed roof that will blend in with the landscape.

The vacant hospital building will undergo substantial restoration. Developers plan to convert the 1863 building into a hotel with 45 bedrooms, banquet hall, a luxury health spa and fitness centre.

Extra accommodation will be provided in 18 self-contained apartments, linked to the hotel, for long-term guests. There will also be 235 parking spaces.

Plans for 23 private apartments were approved, despite being against the council's planning rules.

Councillors agreed that the housing element of the scheme should be approved so that the project could raise enough money to pay for the restoration of Rockliffe Hall.

Councillor Gerald Lee said: "We have to be concerned about such a large heritage site going to rack and ruin.

"If we need Rockliffe Hall restored to its previous condition, I don't think we have much choice other than to allow this housing development to go ahead.

"Obviously, this wouldn't normally happen. We are not opening the door to other landowners to do something like this.

"I support this development, because we do need to make sure that the money is raised to protect this building."

The plan was the idea of Boro chairman Steve Gibson, and is backed by the Countryside Agency and Hurworth Parish Council.

The course complex is expected to open in 2008