Plans to build an all-weather hockey centre on a school playing field have been approved.

Yesterday councillors voted in favour of the plans for the field in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, between Cardinal Newman Catholic School and Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC).

They granted permission for two artificial surface pitches and a pavilion to be built at the western end of the playing field, close to Cardinal Newman school.

Speaking at the Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee meeting, former mayor Councillor Bob Carden said: "Sport is an essential part of everybody's life. Some of the amenities we have had over the years have been absolutely abysmal. Hopefully this facility will be a step in the right direction."

The centre has been planned jointly by Cardinal Newman and Brighton and Hove Hockey Club. The pitches will be available for the school to use until 4pm each day during term time and for the club during evenings, weekends and holidays. It will be used predominantly for hockey but could also support other sports.

The single-storey pavilion will be set into the hill and will have a grass roof where spectators will be able to watch matches.

Cameron Heath, development officer for the hockey club, said: "This is fantastic. Now we can concentrate on fund-raising efforts to build it. We have still got a lot of work to do but I'm sure we can get there."

He said it would take about a year to gather the funds needed for the project.

The club runs 17 senior teams but has no pitches of its own. It has a clubhouse in Preston Park and plays at the University of Sussex in Falmer and at Stanley Deason Leisure Centre in Wilson Avenue, Brighton.

Mr Heath said the new centre would allow the club to expand its youth teams. The project has been endorsed by Sport England.

The decision has disappointed those residents who opposed the plans. They are concerned at the loss of public green space and by the light and noise that will be created by floodlights, players on the pitches and drinkers at the pavilion.

Lawrence Stevens, whose home is opposite the site, said: "It is going to make a huge impact on our lives. We'll constantly have the noise of players shouting at one another."

Coun Anne Giebeler, who spoke against the plans during the meeting, said: "This is just the first stage of a long procedure. Somewhere down the line we are going to try to stop it."