Sheffield City Council has granted Sheffield United football Club (SUFC) planning permission for a new flagship learning and training centre.

Facilities at the centre, to be located adjacent to the club’s Shirecliffe Football Academy, will include all-weather football pitches, classrooms and accommodation for start-up businesses.

The football club is also pitching to house the National Skills Academy’s Sports and Active Leisure Hub for Yorkshire and Humberside at the site.

The 20,000sq ft centre will be the third training and learning facility operated by SUFC, following similar sites at the Bramall Lane stadium and the club’s Academy of Excellence.

The club plans to begin construction work on the site this summer, with completion expected sometime during Spring 2009.

John Stacey, SUFC’s head of property, said: “The scheme, which will incorporate accommodation for start up businesses, learning facilities and upgraded football training facilities, is still subject to grant funding which we are currently in the process of securing.”