YORK'S community stadium looks set to be given the go-ahead at a meeting next week.

The application which is recommended for approval outlines plans for an 8,000-seat community stadium, six shops, two restaurants, a 12-screen cinema, a three-storey leisure centre and an outdoor sports area, including three five-a-side football pitches at the site in Monks Cross.

The stadium will be home to York City Football Club but while early plans had included York City Knights, a stalemate between the club and City of York Council bosses has cast uncertainty over the club's involvement in the scheme.

A debate will be held on Friday at a meeting expected to be so well attended it has been ticketed for health and safety reasons.

Recommending approval, the council report reads: "It is considered that the scheme would provide extensive and comprehensive sports, leisure and community facilities that would effectively replace and significantly enhance the provision of such facilities in the city.

"The scheme would also generate additional employment opportunities. It is considered the benefits of the scheme significantly outweigh the limited environmental, traffic generation and retail impacts."

Vue Cinema in Clifton Moor, which is likely to be impacted by opening of the 12 screen cinema, has registered objection that the development will have an adverse impact on city centre business and on traffic congestion, the report notes.

The applicant has estimated the retail element of the application "would have an impact on York city centre of 1.4 per cent".

A total of 29 objection responses have been received by the council, with concerns raised about potential traffic in the area, inadequate car parking and the loss of the pool at Waterworld, which will be replaced by three pools at the leisure centre.

Meanwhile, 38 messages of support have been received along with a petition containing 500 signatures in support of the scheme.

The community hub at the complex will provide facilities for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, York St John University, BeIndependent (CIC) and Explore York Libraries and Archives Ltd.

If approval is granted, the matter will be held by the assistant director of development services until the end of the month and - should they not receive further significant evidence relating to planning - will be referred to the Secretary of State.

Construction could begin ten weeks later if the matter is not called in by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, or made subject to a judicial review.

The matter is due to be debated at a ticketed meeting at City of York Council's West Offices  at 10am on Friday.

To attend the committee or register as a speaker, members of the public are asked to contact democracy officer Laura Bootland on 01904 552062 or email laura.bootland@york.gov.uk

The deadline for registering to speak at the meeting is by 5pm on Thursday, March 26.