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Bristol City FC will begin work to redevelop their stadium at Ashton Gate at the end of the current season after a deadline for legal challenges to the plan passed.
Councillors gave unanimous backing to the club’s plans to regenerate the stadium last November. Those behind the £40m scheme say it will turn a “relic of bygone era” to a “beacon of growth for the city”.
The proposal includes demolishing and rebuilding the Williams and Wedlock stands, remodelling the Dolman Stand and making alterations to the Atyeo Stand and concourse. 
The regenerated stadium will have a 27,000 capacity. Building work is expected to be completed in 2016.
In January, majority shareholder Steve Lansdown, founder of Bristol-based finance firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said the club would push ahead with plans to redevelop Ashton Gate – finally killing off proposals to build a new stadium at Ashton Vale.
While the club signed a Section 106 agreement to contribute to off-site infrastructure work was signed, City had to wait six weeks to see if any application was made for a judicial review into the decision by councillors to approve the redevelopment plans.
Bristol Sport, the company managing the redevelopment of Ashton Gate, yesterday confirmed that no application for a judicial review had been made.
Chairman Martin Griffiths said: “This is another important step in the overall plan to transform the facilities at Ashton Gate. The project remains on track to start work in May of this year, at the end of the current season.
“This is no “make-over” or second-best alternative. Not only will we have two completely new stands, but the existing Dolman and Atyeo stands will also undergo major redevelopment.
“With a completely new public landscape surrounding the ground itself and state-of-the-art technology, Bristol is going to get a new stadium to be proud of.”
Mr Lansdown added: “It is a relief to reach this point and we can now look forward to developing the stadium.
“I commend the hard work, perseverance and tenacity of all those – and there have been many over the years – who have got us this far. I am now really looking forward to seeing the new Ashton Gate emerge.”
Last week Bristol Rovers Football Club were given the green light to redevelop its Memorial Stadium as a supermarket and build a new £40m stadium on the outskirts of the city at Frenchay.
