PLANS for a brand new stadium in South Gloucestershire have been delayed, Bristol Rovers have confirmed.

Chairman Nick Higgs had previously said it was ‘extremely unlikely’ work on the 21,700-seater stadium, on land at the University of the West of England in Stoke Gifford, would be completed in time for the start of the 2015/16 season.

And he has now confirmed use of the stadium, the first to be built in South Gloucestershire, will be delayed by a year.

“However, this does not mean the build will be delayed by 12 months,” he said. “We still intend to get onsite and start building later this year.”

Mr Higgs said the delay had been caused by a judicial review, called for by residents and traders in Horfield against Sainsbury’s developing Rovers’ current Memorial Stadium into a supermarket.

The club cannot afford its new stadium without the sale of its existing ground.

“It is extremely frustrating that these small minority groups have been able to have such a massive impact on this project and associated projects that will bring so many benefits to the local area,” added Mr Higgs.

He said the delay had cost the club around £1.5million.