Bristol City Council planning officers are recommending that applications by Sainsbury’s to develop a new foodstore at Ashton Gate, and to redevelop their Winterstoke Road site for housing and business use, are both approved.

Sainsbury’s want to move from their current site on Winterstoke Road to a bigger and more modern store on the site of Bristol City’s current Ashton Gate home.

The move will enable Bristol City Football Club to fund the development of a new 30,000-seater regional stadium nearby.

Bristol City group chief executive Colin Sexstone said: “This is obviously great news. Our plans for a new regional stadium are fast becoming a reality, particularly as this is the first of several key decisions that will be taken in the next ten days.

“This report confirms that there is a strong planning case for a relocated foodstore at Ashton Gate and we hope the committee members follow the officer’s recommendation.

“The Club is committed to getting best value for its existing site and the foodstore is a key element of the funding package for the the new regional stadium.

“Furthermore, as the Council’s officers point out, the benefits of a new foodstore along with the new stadium and redevelopment of the existing Sainsbury’s site is a major economic boost to South Bristol.

“It will release over £150 million of private sector investment into the area, and creating hundreds of new jobs (400 more jobs at Sainsbury’s and as many again on the new stadium site) and thousands of construction jobs. It is a major opportunity for local businesses.”

Bristol City Council’s Development Control Committee (South and East) will now consider the application in light of the officers’ recommendation at a meeting next Wednesday.