A SEVEN-year-long battle to find a new home for Kendal Rugby Club reached a climax today.

Proposals for a new state-of-the-art complex on agricultural land - known as Mill Field - north of the club's current site on Shap Road were approved by South Lakeland District Council's planning committee in Kendal Town Hall.

Approval was also being sought for an extension to current planning consent for a new ground at Strawberry Fields off Oxenholme Road.

But club officials maintained its preferred site is at Mill Field -which is just 300 metres away from the current ground - due to changes in the club's requirements over the last few years.

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Both were recommended for approval by council officials.

The proposals at Mill Field include:

* a full-sized floodlit grass pitch;

* a full-sized floodlit artificial grass pitch;

* two smaller training pitches;

* a two-storey clubhouse with changing room facilities for mini, junior and female rugby

The move has been at the centre of controversy since the club was first given the green light to move to Strawberry Fields in 2008.

The club is involved in a contract with Morbaine who will fund a new ground and facilities in return for releasing Mint Bridge for development of a supermarket.

The deal received a major setback when Sainsbury was denied permission to build a store in 2011 and a government inspector later turned down an appeal.

But Sainsbury's finally got the thumbs up in October 2014 to create a 50,000sq.ft store, which will create 350 new jobs.