WORCESTER City majority shareholder Simon Lancaster admits it will be a "challenge" to turn ambitious relocation plans to Fernhill Heath into a reality.

It was revealed on Wednesday morning that the club are proposing a move to Hurst Lane as part of a wider 'Worcestershire Sports Park' project with property development company Marsten Developments.

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A major sports park, including a state-of-the-art football pitch and a cricket pitch, is part of the plan which also includes new housing, retirement living facilities and an 'ultra-modern' community building.

READ | City unveil ground-breaking proposal to build sports park as their new home

Lancaster, who took majority ownership of the football club in May, admits there will be challenges along the way.

"We have been working on this all year," Lancaster told the Worcester News. "We have consulted with both Wychavon and Worcester City Council, and the next stage is public consolation in January and after that, application for planning to go in during the first quarter of next year.

"Then we are probably looking at at least a six to nine-month wait for planning application to be approved. This is a medium-term project overall, but the process is at least now underway.

"There are of course challenges. It’s green belt land and it’s a big development and the councils are obviously aware of the size of what we are proposing but they are making the right noises.

"There is a big community aspect to all of this, this will be a home for the whole football club, which is over 300 kids, so to have them all playing football in the same place is obviously a massive benefit.

"There are plenty of other community benefits to locals with everything we are looking to do at this site."

With it being such an ambitious plan, questions will no doubt be raised over the funding and the hope is that the property part of the site will help fund the sport and leisure aspect.

"This is a joint venture between the football club and Marston Developments," added Lancaster. "We will own the football part."

"We are looking to get some grants but the housing development will be an enabler for the football part of the project. Of course, there may also be some private finance involved from the football club but that’s the main structure."

In terms of the aim of this grand plan, Lancaster believes this is a move that will help the first team become a National League side.

For that to happen, City would need to be playing in a suitable stadium that fits certain criteria.

"The plans (for a new stadium) are for standing all the way around the ground but a couple of covered seating stands are initially being implemented," Lancaster continued.

"But hopefully a couple of promotions would also allow us to develop that further, but it should get us to those standards we have spoken about (National League North/South)."