Bristol City Football Club's (BCFC) plans for the development of a new multi-million pound stadium at Ashton Vale have been handed a boost by the local authority.

Planning officials at Bristol City Council (BCC) have been minded to approve the scheme, which includes the 30,000-seat venue, a hotel and part of a housing scheme on the Alderman Moores allotments site. However, the development proposals could face a £5.5m shortfall after the Southlands housing scheme failed to receive approval from BCC's planning committee.

BCFC chief executive Colin Sexstone said: "To get the permission in the Green Belt, albeit with some reservations, was the big hurdle to cross. There are other hurdles that we still need to cross, but that was the big one. With regards to the Southlands proposals, Sexstone added: "We might have to revise that application, we might need to look at something different. We need to sit down and think hard before we decide what to do."

In October, the club announced that it had secured an agreement with Sainsbury's for the development of a new supermarket on the site of its existing Ashton Gate site to help fund the Ashton Vale scheme. The new stadium, which has been designed by Populous, will occupy a former landfill site adjacent to the Long Ashton park and ride facility, as well as an existing David Lloyd Fitness Centre.