The decision by the Government Office for the North-West not to send the scheme to public inquiry will accelerate the development and means the club could move into its new 18,000-capacity stadium in time for the start of the 2011 season.

Developer Langtree, supermarket giant Tesco and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey were granted consent to redevelop the derelict 46-acre former United Glass site into a £25m stadium and a multi-million pound Tesco Extra.

The town’s current Tesco outlet on Chalon Way will then be redeveloped into alternative retail outlets.  As part of a separate plan, a high quality residential area will be built by Taylor Wimpey, replacing the historic Knowsley Road which has been Saints’ home for 116 years.