Under the deal signed today Sainsbury’s has agreed to buy the football’s club’s Memorial Stadium ground to build a huge supermarket.

The deal will help to finance construction of a 20,000 seater stadium on land near the University’s Frenchay Campus.

Together the proposals represent a construction investment of £60m.

The UWE will lease the land to the club and get access for students to club facilities and media room on non-match days. Students will also have the chance to buy discounted match tickets.

The new ground will be called the UWE Stadium and will include banqueting and hospitality suite, convenience store, gym, jogging track and teaching space for the University.

Public consultation on these plans has been underway since the summer.

Sainsbury’s proposal at the Memorial Stadium site includes a store, work space, community facilities, homes and ample parking.

These proposals will be submitted to both Bristol City Council in the case of the Sainsbury’s application and South Gloucestershire Council regarding the new stadium, after extensive consultation.

Nick Higgs, Chairman of Bristol Rovers, said: “This agreement is a significant step in securing a sustainable future for the Club.

“The move to the Frenchay Campus will be fantastic for our supporters as they will be able to take advantage of the excellent transport links, including the A4174, Parkway and Abbey Wood stations and a new car park.

“Local residents and students will benefit from fantastic new facilities.”

Ben Littman, Regional Development Executive for Sainsbury’s, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in Horfield; speaking with the community will help to ensure that we propose the right mix of facilities in a development that is of an appropriate size and scale for the area.”