Millwall FC's plans to build a new training ground in a leafy part of Kent near a popular race circuit have been approved.

The Championship outfit has been given the green light to erect new facilities the club says will be "amongst the best in the country" near Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown.

Last night Sevenoaks council approved the plans submitted in June for the construction of a training academy on the 50-acre green belt plot off Fawkham Road.

The site will include buildings for groundsman and security, indoor and outdoor football pitches, artificial turf and training areas, as well as car and cycle parking and hard and soft landscaping.

New access will also be created to the site near the London Golf Club off the M20.

The move into Kent will see the Lions' first team and academy training operations combine into one central location for the club's office and support staff.

After narrowly missing out on promotion last year, the Championship outfit who currently sit just outside the play-off places, wants to upgrade its facilities as part of its long-term aim of joining English football's top table, the Premier League.

Lions chief executive, Steve Kavanagh, branded the site's approval "incredibly important" and "very positive news "for the football club.

“We are very thankful to all those who have contributed to helping the club get to this point in what is a long and complex process, and we’re excited about progressing further in the months ahead," he said.

“There is a concerted commitment to ensuring delivery of a high-end and state-of-the-art training complex which is aligned with the club’s long-term objectives and in keeping with its values and principles.

"There is still much work to be done before a facility is up and running but everyone connected with the project will continue to work every bit as tirelessly as has been the case to date in order to fulfil the club’s vision.

“We will continue to keep supporters updated about notable developments in the months ahead.”

Mitigation to minimise the impact the new training ground will have on the surrounding area, which is located on the green belt land, were also included in the plans.

Through its charitable arm, the Millwall Community Trust, Mr Kavanagh says the club also hopes to do good work at grassroots level and make a "meaningful and positive contribution" to West Kingsdown.

The majority of the training ground will consist of open football pitches.

The building will comprise medical, rehabilitation and treatment facilities, gym and training facilities, team and staff changing rooms, meeting rooms, press/media provision and other amenities for players and management.

An indoor training pitch is also required for the players to train in during the winter and wet weather, to be located to the rear of the site, next to the M20.

In recent months, the club has liaised with local residents, Sevenoaks council and the wider community.

The club expressed its gratitude to the local authority's "outstanding professionalism and co-operation" during the process but faced criticism from West Kingsdown Parish Council and some local residents over aspects of its plans.

Villagers raised a series of complaints about the proposals, which largely centred on its positioning on the green belt and the added traffic to Fawkham Road.

One neighbour said: "The noise impact assessment criteria is inaccurate and misleading and further demonstrates that Millwall Holding' are looking to develop on green belt land rather than available brownfield site on the basis of cost, and not for the benefit for the West Kingsdown community.

"The assessment fails to acknowledge that the noise from the proposed academy are in addition to the already high ambient noise from the M20 motorway and Brandshatch Race circuit on race days."

Another added: "As someone who has no interest in football can Millwall please explain what other benefits it will bring to the community whilst taking our green belt.

"To just drive its players to our neighbourhood then drive them back out. How rude and offensive. When did football become so important that it challenged our green belt laws?"

However others were more accommodating and welcomed the suggested economic and social benefits it would bring.

"Would be absolutely fantastic in creating employment opportunities as well as positive attention on our beautiful area, " said one respondent.

While another added: "We need to look to the future to benefit the future generations with a state of the art facility for all to enjoy."

Daniel Whitmarsh, a spokesman for Sevenoaks council, said: "Our development control committee resolved to approve the application with conditions, subject to approval from the Secretaries of State for Transport and The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as well as the applicant signing a Section 106 Agreement.”

A section 106 agreement is an agreement between a developer and a local planning authority about measures the developer must take to reduce their impact on the community.

As part of its consent Millwall FC has been asked to agree a community benefit plan for the district and West Kingsdown.

It will also draw up an economic development strategy to maximise opportunities for residents for employment, skills, training, and volunteering, and fund improvements around public access to Hever Road.

The Lions currently train at Calmont Road in Bromley – just over 15 miles away – but the club doesn’t own the facility and the lease is set to expire soon.

When built, the West Kingsdown facility will be be an easy journey from the club's main base and stadium at The Den in Bermondsey.

It is 19 miles away, almost entirely along the A20 and, according to the online AA Route Planner, would take 44 minutes to drive.