Stadium boost for Cardiff

Hamman's goal: A new stadium for Cardiff City FC

Cardiff City are a step nearer to starting work on a new 30,000 seater stadium.

The club has been granted sole developer status for a period of 18 months for a £100m mixed retail and sport complex on land adjacent to their current home of Ninian Park.

The agreement with Cardiff City Council paves the way for the planning process to begin for the Leckwith development project.

Before any work can start on the football stadium, planning permission must also be granted for a new athletics stadium to replace the current facility at Leckwith.

Said Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam: "This is great news and whilst we have a long way to go this is a very robust agreement negotiated over almost two years and subjected to detailed scrutiny by the Council.

If this project becomes a reality, Cardiff City FC will become a Premiership Club

Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam

"This gives us the confidence to now spend almost £1m to complete the full planning process and the Council the contracted security it requires for the project to go forward."

Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Russell Goodway, added: "The Council's vision for Cardiff ties in with Sam Hammam's vision for Cardiff City Football Club.

"This agreement will mark a significant step towards bringing Premiership football to the capital and Wales will underline the importance of a zero tolerance approach to football hooliganism."

The stadium's capacity will be increased to 60,000 if the club win prmotion to the Premiership.

The whole development will also include a retail stores, a hotel, fitness centre, a nightclub, bars, restaurants and a sports injuries clinic.

Their present Ninian Park ground will become a residential development.

Hammam added: "If this project becomes a reality then there can be no question that one day Cardiff City FC will become a Premiership Club."