The planning application for a new stadium for Bristol City Football Club at Ashton Vale has been submitted to Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council.

The application, which will be considered by both local authorities, contains detailed designs for the proposed 30,000 seat stadium, which would occupy a former landfill site bordering the Long Ashton park and ride and David Lloyd fitness centre, as well as outline proposals for the mixed-use areas of the site.

The submission follows more than 1000 visits by residents and stakeholders to three rounds of public consultation which included a series of exhibitions and workshops covering key areas including transport, ecology and stadium design.

The £65 million stadium comprises four separate stands and has the potential to expand its capacity to 42,000 - the number of seats required to host World Cup matches if England is successful in its bid to stage the competition in 2018.

A new stadium at Ashton Vale would support the Club's ambitions and provide a stadium befitting Bristol's importance as a major city. It would also allow BCFC to strengthen the strong links it has with the local community.

Chairman of Bristol City Football Club, Steve Lansdown, told bcfc.co.uk: "A new stadium would bring substantial benefits for both the Club and the city as a whole, creating a world-class sports facility, strengthening the local economy and driving the ongoing regeneration of south Bristol.

"We are very grateful to everyone who has taken part in the consultation process since it launched in November last year. Feedback from local people has been instrumental in helping to shape plans for the new stadium, which we believe would be one of the most exciting developments seen in Bristol for many years."

Members of the public wishing to comment on the planning application will be able to do so online at bristol.gov.uk or n-somerset.gov.uk shortly. Copies of the application will be available at Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council's planning offices. Also, at the request of Bristol City Council a hard-copy of the application will be available for public viewing at BCFC's Ashton Gate Stadium. A decision on the application is expected in October 2009.