Worcester City Football Club has failed to convince planning officers that its new stadium project should be included in the Local Plan.

But Worcester City Council's Cabinet members are to consider changing the wording of the Local Plan if they choose to support the stadium bid.

If they want to support the bid, they have been legally advised to include a list of criteria that the club must meet.

The project leaders say they can meet these criteria and they have welcomed it as a step forward.

The Cabinet members will decide whether to support the inclusion of the stadium and B&Q store enabling development at Tuesday's meeting.

The council's director of development services, Stuart McNidder, said the information the club had provided about the project had not convinced him to support the retail section of the proposal.

"I consider that the city council should maintain its objection to the inclusion of a retail park as the facilitating development," he said.

The council's consultants have found fault with the impact studies commissioned by the football club.

Its shopping consultants, White Young Green Planning, said the Tolladine Goods Yard would be a preferable site but admitted the retail development would create jobs.

The county council, as transport authority, believed the parking provision at the site was too low.

But David Hallmark, the solicitor leading the project, said the problems could be addressed.

If the council does choose to support the project at a full council meeting on Tuesday, December 10, an independent Local Plan inspector will decide whether it should be included.

n The football club wants anyone who supports its plans for a new stadium to be built in association with a new B&Q retail store to express their backing by writing to the Mayor of Worcester, at the city's Guildhall.