Bristol Rovers’ plans for a Sainsbury’s supermarket at its Memorial Stadium have been give the go ahead by the city council, paving the way for the club to make their long hoped for move to a new purpose-built ground.
Campaigners against the plans claimed the “car-centric development” would have a detrimental impact on local businesses on nearby Gloucester Road, air quality and traffic congestion.
Councillors voted 6-3 for the development in Horfield to be approved at a meeting earlier.
Rovers needed to sell the Memorial Stadium to fund its move to a new 21,700-seat stadium at Frenchay, which already has planned approval.
Committee chair Cllr Chris Windows said: “The arguments for and against this development were finely balanced but members were happy to approve because of the overall wider benefits that this proposal brings in terms of a new purpose-built stadium for the area.
“This supermarket development will support important new jobs and additional housing – 40% of which will be affordable.”
As well as a food store, the development will include 65 houses and apartments.
The plans will be referred to the Secretary of State, who then has 21 days to comment.
