Coventry City’s new Arena 2000 has been given the planning green light and work is set to start on the £120 million project in the next month.

Coventry City Council’s planning policy team gave the Foleshill complex outline planning permission – allowing the Premiership club to push on with its ambitious plans.

The stadium, which will figure a sliding roof and retractable pitch, could host games for the 2006 World Cup if England’s bid for the tournament is successful.

The club can now start on the detailed design of the stadium before applying again for full planning consent later in the year.

City’s chief executive Stuart Rolt, who was brought in to oversee the project, said the club and council would soon reach agreement on more details.

He told CWN:

"In about 10 days we will be signing a section 106 which gives details of the building and operating procedures for the project.

"In about four or five months time we have enough detail on the stadium itself to submit plans, in accordance with the 106, to the council. The stadium will come first and then the rest of the development.

"The design has to progress for two reasons. Firstly so we can get the detailed planning permission and so we can receive formal planning quotations from bidding contractors.

"Work will start soon on moving the gas pressure reducing station, which belongs to Transco. That will remain on the site but move from its present position. The gas holders will also be removed and the site cleared ready for the decontamination to start.

"Hopefully that will mean we should be in a position to really get on site. There is, quite obviously a lot still do but we are very pleased with the outline permission.

"There has been a great deal of work done by the council, their planning department and our team."