THE developers behind Worcester City’s proposed new stadium are confident the project will get the go-ahead from council planners.

On Tuesday, City unveiled designs for a new home at Nunnery Way, which they hope will ultimately bring League football to Worcester.

The stadium will be built in three stages, with the first costing £5m, funded by the sale of St George’s Lane, and featuring a 2,000-seater covered main stand and 1,200-capacity covered terrace at one end of the ground.

Built by regeneration specialists St Modwen, it will form part of a £30million scheme set to include a health and fitness centre, hotel, restaurant and car showrooms.

Stages two and three of the stadium, to be built on a 5.82-acre site, down from the initally stated 7.5, will be constructed with money generated through the conference facilities and executive boxes as well as cash raised from the enabling development.

City could also benefit financially if the value of the site increased over time but would not be at risk if that figure decreased.

The project is due to go before Worcester City Council at the end of this month and it is hoped planning permission will be granted early next year.

A previous application to use DIY superstore B&Q as the enabling development fell foul of planners in 2004 but St Modwen believe the current proposal ticks all the boxes.

They are also confident the current economic climate will not have an effect on the project being completed.

Julie Rossiter, senior asset manager at St Modwen, said: “From our discussions with the planning officers at Worcester City Council, we have spent the last 12 to 18 months talking to them about the range of uses and development that they would like to see on this site and we have taken that into account in the design.

“We have worked closely with the council to share with them our ideas and design and the interest from end occupiers as well.

“It’s clear from the investment St Modwen made in getting the design ready for the planning application, which will be submitted at the end of this month, the commitment St Modwen and the football club has to this scheme and the planning application.

“That’s the reason for the public consultation to get feedback from the wider public and the football club’s supporters and we are confident it will come to fruition.

“I am very confident the rest of the site will be taken up.”

She added: “We are already in serious discussions with a number of end users and we are confident that we will be bringing those forward over the next few months.”

The scheme, on land between junctions six and seven of the M5, could create up to 600 jobs but that number does not include construction workers.

Rossiter added: “In this current climate, bringing new jobs to the city is very important.”