CLARETS officials have spoken of their delight after the first phase of plans to redevelop Turf Moor were passed by councillors.

Work on the £2.25m three-storey player and media centre will get under way in the summer after members of Burnley Council's development control committee approved the scheme.

Development director Paul Fletcher said: "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."

The building will link the Jimmy McIlroy and James Hargreaves.

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

The first floor consists of offices, bringing together the entire club's administrative staff for the first time.

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."