Plans for a £40m redevelopment of Bristol City FC’s Ashton Gate stadium to increase capacity from 21,500 to 27,000 have been submitted to the city council.
The scheme includes replacing the existing Williams and Wedlock stands with new structures, updating the Dolman Stand and creating a new conference, exhibition and entertainment centre for the city.
There would also be enhanced disabled facilities, improved public transport links and the addition of rail seating.
The plans, which following a public consultation exercise last month, have been submitted by Bristol Sport Ltd (BL), the business behind Bristol City Football Club and Bristol Rugby. The upgraded stadium would be used by both clubs.
The planning application, which is due to be decided in October, runs parallel with BSL’s earlier plans to build a new stadium on a site at nearby Ashton Vale. However, that scheme, for which BSL already has planning consent and would involve selling Ashton Gate for commercial development, has been delayed by a series of legal moves by opponents.
An inquiry into the Ashton Vale plans is due to reopen in October.
If permission is granted for the Ashton Gate redevelopment, it could be ready in time for the 2016-17 season.
