SUNDERLAND AFC is to appeal against refusal of planning permission for its proposed £10m-plus training academy.

The club won outline planning permission for the overall development within 65-acres of Whitburn Moor Farm, north of Sunderland, from the then Environment Secretary, John Prescott, on appeal last year.

Landscaping work began on the site of the Academy of Light, aimed at grooming the next generation of talented footballers, in November.

But the club's detailed designs for academy buildings were rejected by South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council's planning committee last month, despite planning officers' recommendation of approval.

Sunderland vice-chairman John Fickling expressed "surprise and disappointment" at the decision and said the club would, "consider its position carefully".

It led to yesterday's club statement confirming it has submitted an appeal against the refusal of planning permission.

The club has also resubmitted its original detailed designs for the buildings to the council to give councillors, "the opportunity to reconsider".

Opponents accused the club of "moving the goal posts", claiming the revised plans were "dramatically different" from those originally submitted prior to a planning inquiry in 1999.

Despite comprising mostly football pitches, including one with demountable floodlights, opponents claim the development would wipe out the narrow green belt separating Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Green Belt Action Group chairman Tim O'Leary described the latest design for conversion of farm buildings to create physiotherapy, fitness, education and changing rooms, as "more like an out-of-town supermarket".