The stand could be up for in time for next season

Gloucester City Council gave the go-ahead for a new 7,000-seat stand to replace the existing grandstand.

The structure will also include corporate boxes, a new bar, changing rooms and offices. It could be ready in time for the start of next season.

In May, the club was given permission to build a 2,500-seat stand at the Kingsholm Road end of the ground.

The new grandstand will take capacity at the ground to 16,500.

The club's managing director, Ken Nottage, told the club's website: "It's great news for everyone, but now we have to focus on the project and fine tune every detail and every timescale.

"If we go ahead with the project, we need to make a decision whether it will be for the start of the 2005/06 season or the next one."