Leeds Rhinos’ proposed Headingley Stadium development will be postponed for at least a year – fuelling concerns that neighbour Yorkshire County cricket Club will lose international fixtures.

The Super League club confirmed that plans to demolish and redevelop the ground’s South Stand and Main Stand – which was due to begin in January 2017 – had been put back due to problems in securing the appropriate planning permission.

The delay has “caused complex planning matter” for the club, and now the South Stand will be open for the entire 2017 Super League season.

Yorkshire CCC will feel a knock-on effect as it shares the Main Stand with the rugby league club.

Headingley Cricket Ground had been expected to schedule to host a number of lucrative international fixtures beyond 2019.

International fixtures will be allocated for the four-year period from 2020 in the summer of 2017, meaning the delay could mean that Headingley was not considered for Test Match cricket over that period, or World Cup matches in 2019 when England hosts the tournament.

Both Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington and Yorkshire CCC CEO Mark Arthur expressed their “disappointment”.

“The funding package for the whole stadium development involves investment from both ourselves and Yorkshire CCC, and support from both Leeds City Council and other public bodies,” said Hetherington.

“Naturally a project of this magnitude has unique challenges and unfortunately we have not been able to conclude some of those to allow us to begin work on the South Stand.”

Arthur added: “Not only does this delay the club’s ability to stage internationals, it would also have profound consequences to both Yorkshire’s and Leeds Rhinos’ valuable and long-standing work within the wider community.

“To continue the vast amount of work within the Leeds area, the club is dependent on retaining international cricket.”