The new Memorial Stadium will hold 18,500 people

Bristol Rovers have been granted permission to redevelop the club's Memorial Stadium, 23 years after they began their search for a new ground.

The city council has approved plans for an 18,500 seater stadium, student flats, a hotel and gym which will be shared with Bristol Rugby.

"The football club is delighted with the decision," Rovers chairman Ron Craig told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It's all put to bed now and we can get on with taking the club forward."

Interview: Bristol Rovers chairman Ron Craig

Interview: Bristol Rovers head coach Paul Trollope

He added: "There's always a little bit of scepticism about whether the scheme is going ahead but everything will go full-bore from now."

Rovers had received planning permission last year for their original scheme to redevelop the Memorial Ground, but had to re-submit the revised project to the city planning authorities after deciding to reduce the scale of the operation.

606: DEBATE At long last we will have a magnificent new home, a stadium to be proud of, the envy of all our West Country rivals gashead-arrow

The cost of the redevelopment will be met by incorporating 99 student flats into the new stadium as well as a 100-room hotel, a small supermarket and a gym.

The club says the alterations to the original plans were minor, involving increasing the height of the two towers at the north end of the ground by almost two metres.

For both Rovers and Bristol Rugby, the redevelopment will mean a major upheaval and the prospect of spending two seasons playing outside the city.

Bristol Rovers did have an agreement to share with Cheltenham Town before the project was delayed but are now also in discussion with both Swindon Town and Yeovil Town about the possibility of playing at either of their grounds.

Bristol Rugby have been in talks with several clubs. Problems over access has ruled out a move to Clifton Rugby Club but talks are underway to share with Newport in Wales.

Playing some games at Bristol City's Ashton Gate ground is still a possibility but may depend on whether City are promoted to the Premier League.