Plans for a major multi-million pound revamp of Old Trafford cricket stadium in Manchester have been given the green light by Trafford Council's planning committee.

Government Office North West will now decide whether to formally approve the project, which has been put forward by the Old Trafford Partnership - comprising Ask Developments, Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC) and Tesco. Plans for the transformation of a 50-acre (20.2-hectare) site include a redevelopment of the cricket ground in order to meet the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) criteria for international status.

Construction company Morgan Ashurst has already started work on the first stage of the stadium project, which includes a new £12m conference and events suite - The Point - due to open in July. An enhanced pavilion, a hotel, new player and media facilities and an extended indoor cricket school form part of the second stage of the scheme, designed by architects BDP.

Two new grandstands will increase the venue's seating capacity to 15,000, which can be further boosted to 25,000 with the installation of temporary seating for major events. A Tesco superstore with 94,000sq ft (8,733sq m) of retail space is also among the plans, which form part of a sports-led regeneration strategy to halt the local area's economic decline.

LCCC chief executive Jim Cumbes said: "The planning committee recognised the important role the club plays in supporting Trafford's economy - especially through hosting international matches like the Ashes. "They also backed our plans to deliver a much-needed new retail offering, hundreds of local jobs, and millions of pounds in regeneration to this part of the borough."