Council approval has been granted for the current home stadium of the Bristol Rovers FC to be redeveloped for retail space and housing, paving the way for a new international stadium to be built at the University of the West of England Frenchay Campus, UK.

At a 16 January meeting the Bristol City Council granted Sainsbury’s permission to convert Memorial Stadium into a supermarket, 65 housing units, 23 affordable units, community space, 572 parking spaces and a square.

Because the stadium is designated for sporting use in the Local Plan the council’s decision has now been referred to the Secretary of State, who has 21 days to comment on the scheme.

Bristol Rovers FC needed the plans to be approved for the stadium’s sale, which will finance their move, to go ahead.

Club chair Nick Higgs said the planned £40m stadium is designed to FIFA and international rugby standards and would compete with facilities in cities like Cardiff, Swansea and Reading.

He said the stadium could help the Rovers spring to top flight football, bring a huge investment to Bristol and create thousands of jobs.

The new stadium would initially have a capacity of 21,700, with the potential to increase to 35,000 should demand require.

It would include a conference centre, banqueting hall, exhibition space, bars, restaurants, 28 executive boxes, community space, gymnasium, jogging track, teaching space and car parking.