Bristol City Football Club has released the following statement in the wake of Sainbury's planning application submission.

A club spokesman said: "The submission of the Sainsbury's planning applications is another major milestone towards the new regional stadium. We have been working very hard with Sainsbury's to ensure there is a constructive dialogue with the local community and are heartened by the positive comments received about the new proposals, which many people clearly believe are a vast improvement on the earlier scheme.

"Realising the full value of Ashton Gate remains vital as far as the new stadium is concerned. These plans are an important part of the enabling development that is critical if the club is not to be burdened with debt in delivering the new stadium.

"Taken together, the development of both the new and the existing foodstore sites will be a major boost to the area delivering new employment, workspace and residential units. It is also an opportunity to inject much needed investment - and thus jobs - into the local economy.

"As well as being a new home for Bristol City Football Club, the stadium will also be a new regional stadium for the whole of Bristol and the wider region, offering Bristol's biggest conference venue and the South West's biggest stadium concert venue.

"Bristol City Council planners have already voted to approve plans for the new regional stadium. These plans for the enabling development will provide for an exciting future for South Bristol and the city as a whole."

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