Bristol City's Ashton Vale football stadium 'will not be built'

A redeveloped Ashton Gate could be open in time for the 2016-17 season

Bristol City FC will not build a new stadium at Ashton Vale - as long as the club is allowed to redevelop its existing ground, the BBC understands.

The club was given permission to build on the site in 2009, but construction was blocked by a protesters' bid to designate the land as a town green.

The BBC has learned the club has agreed a deal with campaigners that would see it redevelop Ashton Gate.

But the redevelopment depends on two other planning issues being agreed.

If a planning inquiry into the town green proposal - due in October - is delayed and planning permission to redevelop Ashton Gate is granted in November, then the club will abandon its Ashton Vale stadium development, the BBC understands.

Instead, half of the town green site would be given over to housing, the other half would be designated a town green by the football club.