North Somerset Council have granted planning permission for an access road to the new stadium site in Ashton Vale.

The North Somerset Planning and Regulatory Committee took just under one-and-half hours to come to the decision at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall this afternoon, voting 11-1 in favour.

It followed planning officers' recommendations for approval and overturned an earlier decision not to allow the access road made before Christmas by the council's Central Area Planning Committee.

Bristol City's new business development director Guy Price said the decision was "great news" and a major step forward for the stadium project.

He said: "It is great news that North Somerset Council today approved Bristol City Football Club's planning application for the access road to the proposed new stadium at Ashton Vale.

"This is the last piece of the jigsaw in the planning process for the new stadium.

"We have worked hard to ensure that all the issues have been addressed. We will continue to liaise and work with the local community.

"In addition, in the future we will be promoting public transport so that there is less reliance on carbon transport.

"We have had huge momentum since the start of this project and it is gaining momentum with every stage of the process."

Bristol City Council has already approved the planning application for the main stadium and, after reviewing the application, the Government decided there is no need to intervene in the decision-making process.

Sainsbury's planning application for the Ashton Gate site has been submitted and should be heard in July.