St Helens have been granted planning permission for their new stadium without the need for a public inquiry."This is excellent news for the club and its fans," said Saints chairman Eamonn McManus.
"We are now looking at an identifiable timeframe and have avoided the onerous costs of a central government call-in."
The target completion date for the new 18,000-capacity stadium is February 2011, which should see the team able to start the following campaign in their new home. Site clearance at the derelict former United Glass site should begin in mid-2009.
St Helens have been at their current Knowsley Road home, which will become a housing development, for 116 years.
"This is another important hurdle out of the way and we look forward to the work and challenges ahead," said McManus.
"The future of the club and of the town is looking very healthy indeed."
