The club's plans for a new £18 million stadium were yesterday given the go ahead – and the ground looks set to open in July 2016. A Scunthorpe Telegraph report.

There was joy yesterday as North Lincolnshire Council's planning committee voted in favour of the development, with one abstention, following representations by club chairman Peter Swann.

Speaking after the decision, Mr Swann said he welcomed the planning committee's decision.

"We have been working for 12 to 18 months on the project and we want to be open by July 2016," he said. We are very pleased and by May 15, I should be announcing who is building the stadium. That is when the tender finishes and there are a few weeks to cross the t's and dot the i's. I am really looking forward to it."

The club's plans for a new £18 million (€25m / $27m) stadium cover 23 hectares and outline planning permission also includes future indoor hall and complex of training fields. The main stadium will hold 12,000 people and is expected to improve the club’s profile.