Stadium recommended for approval

The club hope the new stadium will be built by 2012

Plans for a new £65m football stadium in Ashton Vale could be a step closer after planners recommended that Bristol City Council approve the scheme.

Bristol City FC are hoping to replace their Ashton Gate base with a new 30,000-seater home nearby.

The council's development control committee will discuss the plan at its meeting on 4 November.

It said approval was conditional on the club withdrawing plans for new housing to be built along with the stadium.

The club will also be expected to address the issue of pedestrian access to the site across the busy Winterstoke Road.

World Cup

However, planners are recommending approval for the club to build a hotel and create a 1,000 space car-park on the site.

The plan, which is opposed by an environmental group, depends on the club finding a buyer for Ashton Gate.

Ashton Gate has been the home of Bristol City since 1904

Supermarket giant Tesco recently pulled out of exploratory talks about buying the site and the club is now in discussion with Sainsbury's.

Environmentalists have said the Ashton Vale move would endanger rare wildlife.

The planners' 139-page report notes: "The scheme has given rise to a significant body of support, based principally on the benefits seen in the provision of a new stadium for Bristol City FC and also as a facility for the city and sub region."

If the committee grants outline permission, the scheme would have to come back for full approval in spring.

The club hopes that the new stadium will be built by 2012 and would host World Cup matches, should England win its bid to host the 2018 tournament.