BUILDING work will finally get under way on Sunderland AFC's long-awaited football academy in coming weeks.

The controversial scheme for the proposed £10m Academy of Light won outline planning approval early last year, following a public inquiry.

But details for the buildings on the site, at Whitburn Moor Farm, were rejected by a single vote by South Tyneside Borough Council last month, against officials' advice.

Members of the Green Belt Action Group, made up mostly of villagers in Cleadon, Whitburn and Seaburn Dene, claimed the plans were out of scale with those outlined at the public inquiry.

The club resubmitted the proposals and, after a debate, the council's planning committee approved the scheme by seven votes to six yesterday.

Club chief executive John Fickling welcomed the decision and said work would start soon to provide the Black Cats with the best of facilities.

He said there had been workers on the site, carrying out landscaping, for nine months, but they could not proceed with the conversion of the old farm buildings until planning consent was granted.

"It's marvellous, not only for Sunderland AFC. We are going to have a world-class facility, which will be marvellous for the region," said Mr Fickling.