Senior club officials have today expressed their delight at the news that Burnley FC's £30m redevelopment is set to get underway.

A meeting of Burnley council's development control committee on Thursday evening approved plans for phase one of the development, which includes the relocation of a new players' and media facility at Turf Moor.

Development director Paul Fletcher said: "Naturally we are all delighted at this fantastic news.

"This is the first step on a long journey and it was important, not only for the club, but the team as well.

"I think running out in the middle of the away fans in an often empty stand is not a great start to the day, so it will have real benefits for the players.

"I can remember the dressing rooms myself as a player, housed within what was an innovative stand when it was built.

"Nowadays, it looks well past its sell by date, so this new facility will be a fantastic progression.

"The club's professional image will instantly be better and the stadium will soon start to look much nicer.

"It will also benefit the club's disabled supporters before we are able to re-house them in the new stand, which forms phase two of the development.

"It's just a great step forward for everyone."

The £2.25m build, which will commence in mid-summer, is a three-floor development.

The ground floor will house all the matchday playing facilities for the first team squad, including spacious dressing rooms, warm-up rooms, physiotherapy room, gymnasium and managerial offices.

The first floor consists a suite of offices, bringing together the entire club's administrative staff for the first time and improving communication and service to the customers.

The second floor will house new press facilities, a state-of-the-art media theatre and brand new editing facilities for new media. There will also be space for a commercial tenant.

The build is expected to take around nine months and be open in time for the beginning of the 2009/10 season.

Stadium manager Doug Metcalfe added: "It is fantastic news and this is the catalyst for the rest of the development.

"It is something we have been looking at for years and now we have permission is a step further than we have ever been before.

"These top quality facilities will challenge most Championship, if not Premiership clubs."