A SEVEN-year long search to find Kendal Rugby Club a new home has taken a major step forward.

Proposals for a new state-of-the-art complex on agricultural land north of the club's current site at Mint Bridge on Shap Road has been lodged with South Lakeland District Council.

The application comes in the wake of a decision last year to let developers Morbaine build a 50,000 sq.ft Sainsbury's store on the club's land - which in turn will finally allow the club to move from its present site.

Dr Stephen Green, chairman of Kendal Rugby Club, said the move to Mill Field, which is currently used for grazing of livestock, will benefit the community but admitted there was still significant hurdles to overcome.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic but over the years there has been so many times when we've been in a good position but been turned down," he said. "I hope the council and the powers that be look favourably on what is a community asset. We are an important fabric of the town."

He added: "The club has been in a difficult position over the last seven years. We've been in a bit of a limbo because we have ageing facilities and don't want to have to spend large amounts of money patching up a clubhouse when we could have been bulldozing the whole site."

The club is involved in a contract with Morbaine - drawn up in 2008 - which provides for a new ground and facilities in return for releasing Mint Bridge for development.

In 2008 the club received permission to move to a new ground on Strawberry Fields, off Oxenholme Road. However that move was delayed when, in 2009, SLDC rejected plans for a supermarket on Shap Road.

Last year's thumbs up from SLDC has now reignited hopes of a move for the rugby club, and a foothold in Kendal for Sainsbury's, with the club's planning consent the only stumbling block.

Alex Brodie, director at Morbaine, said the 'try line was in sight'.

"Shap Road is the first large site you get to from the town centre," he said. "There is nowhere closer that could fit a Sainsbury's of that size and we knew the club would be a willing participant which is why we approached them so many years ago."

He said, if the rugby club application is passed, that Sainsbury's could be open by summer 2017.

Morbaine has also re-submitted plans for the Strawberry Field development - the current planning permission is due to expire in February - as a backup in case the Mill Field plan is rejected.

But Dr Green said the club's preferred site was at Mill Field, which sits behind stores such as Morrisons, Pets at Home and Next.

"Since 2008 the club has changed a lot and things around that site have changed," he said. "They are now going to build houses all the way up so there will be houses next to the site rather than just across the road.

"The club also now has a mini and youth section and a thriving ladies team which we need to cater for. I hope that people will see it as a benefit rather than a blight."

The proposed new facilities include new grass pitches, an artificial pitch, clubhouse and car parking.

Dr Green added that if all went to plan the club could be playing rugby on its new pitch by late 2016.

Drainage reports, flood risk assessments and protected species reports have also been submitted as part of the application.

The Sainsbury's store will see investment of £1.1 million in Kendal infrastructure as well as creating up to 350 new full and part-time jobs.