DISUSED industrial land has been acquired as part of a sport village development plan for land near Sunderland Football Club's Stadium of Light.

Regeneration body Sunderland arc, with partners the city council and One NorthEast, announced yesterday it had taken control of a significant slice of land in the Sheepfolds area, next to the stadium, in the Monkwearmouth area.

Among the properties acquired in the deal are the former Precision Engineering and Fleet Factors units in Stobart Street, measuring more than 1,200sq metres.

The premises are either empty or subject of business relocations.

It adds to a further 1,200sq metres of property in Hay Street, Sheepfolds, bought by One North-East last year.

Sunderland arc said the move brings forward its ambitious plans to create a £130m sport village adjacent to the stadium and a proposed Olympic-sized swimming pool, for which funds have been applied for from Sport England.

Michael McConnell, head of property for Sunderland arc, said: "Our plans for the sports village will create some of the most state-of-the-art leisure facilities in the country, let alone, the region."

The proposed development will include a 150-bed hotel, leisure and other sporting facilities, to complement the swimming pool, planned by the city council.

The total site area, including the stadium, will measure 48 acres.