Rovers have produced an online Q&A to answer a number of frequently asked questions about the forthcoming Memorial Stadium regeneration.

It includes the most common queries received from supporters regarding the redevelopment.

Why have you had to submit a new planning application?

During the last year since permission was granted for the scheme (subject to completion of the s106 agreement) we have been developing the design to a point where it can underpin demolition and construction contracts. In addition, we have collected much more detailed information than we had at the time of the original planning application. During April 2007 we had site investigation drilling rigs at the stadium taking samples of the ground conditions beneath the stadium. The information collected from that has dictated the structural requirements for the new stadium.

The design development process also includes spatial planning and distribution and the development of fire and safety strategies in consultation with various parties; it is this which has dictated most of the changes. Continuing design development is a perfectly normal part of the planning and design process. The level of design required to support a planning application is much less detailed then that required for contract documentation so the design has to be developed after planning permission has been granted in order to implement the scheme.

Unfortunately there is no provision in the law for design changes such as these to be agreed outside the planning process so the amendments to the design have to be submitted formally to the local planning authority within a new planning application.

Why did you wait until the s106 Agreement had been signed before submitting the new application?

A We consider the changes to be minor amendments to the scheme that was approved by the City Council last January. So, we felt it was important to finalise the planning permission in the manner we were required to do ie complete the s106 agreement. This then provided a formal position against which amendments could be proposed.

What are the changes?

These are set out on a briefing sheet drawn up by our planning consultants RPS. A copy is available at the exhibition or on request to the Football Club. Details have also been released on the website recently.

It is worth emphasising though that the stadium plans are fundamentally the same as they were last January - it is still an 18,500 capacity stadium; it is still funded by the enabling development, principally the student accommodation; it still has the same number of student bedrooms and broadly the same number of hotel rooms and the same amount of commercial floorspace.

Aren't all of these changes just to save costs?

Of course we don't want to spend money unnecessarily - who would? But, we're actually looking to improve the efficiencies in both the construction and operation of the new stadium. This is about getting the best value for money which is very different from cost cutting per se.

A good example of improving efficiencies and getting better all round value is deleting the basement. Not only can all of the facilities earmarked for the basement be provided elsewhere within the development but the number of lorries required to remove spoil during construction has reduced significantly. This has to be good news not only for the Football Club but also for the local residents.

Why have you deleted the Conference Facilities?

We haven't deleted the conference facility. As part of the detailed design development and spatial planning it was decided that it would be a more efficient use of space and more cost effective to amend the restaurant facilities as dual use with the conference facilities. A large ante-room and other corporate facilities have been formed in space on the lower ground floor, which was previously set aside for the conference centre. These will provide areas for pre dinner/conference drinks and refreshments, and areas for exhibitions linked to the conference facilities.

What is the height of the roof?

The eaves of the roof are at the same height as they are in the permitted scheme, except in the north east and north west corners where the building is 1 metre higher. However, this does not impact upon the sightlines or daylighting requirements.

There has been some speculation based upon a comparison of photographs of the north western corner of the new stadium that the building is significantly higher in order to accommodate an additional floor. In fact what the photograph does not show is the changed configuration of the building, the changed configuration of the space within that part of the building and lower internal ceiling heights. The net effect of this has been to facilitate an additional floor without compromising the sightlines or daylighting requirements for adjacent and nearby buildings.

Even with the additional floor there is no increase in the number of student bedrooms and in fact there is a small decrease in the overall number of hotel rooms. Planning drawings which show the sightlines for adjoining properties are available at the exhibition.

Why didn't you get the design right in the first place?

Design is an iterative process and it is a perfectly normal part of the overall design development process to keep improving things as the information available gets more detailed in order to arrive at the optimum design solution. The design development will also highlight fire strategy, security strategy and distribution issues.

As noted in response to a previous question, the level of design required to support a planning application is a lot lower than that required for contract documentation so it is a normal activity to continue the detailed design development after planning permission has been granted.

Why are you holding exhibitions now?

A We have timed the newsletter and the exhibitions to tie in with the formal submission of the amendments to the City Council. They are statutorily obliged to consult with local residents (and others) and we wanted to give our neighbours the full picture of what is being proposed so that if they wish to respond to the Council they can do so from an informed position.

But we're only getting your side of the story?

The proposed amendments are factual. So in that sense there is only one side of the story. You can decide whether you think they improve the scheme or not and respond accordingly to the Council. We think the changes do improve the scheme and we think they are minor amendments - that is our opinion. You may not share that opinion but the changes themselves are what they are - we are explaining them factually.

Why have you given us only a week's notice?

We wanted to hold the exhibitions as soon as practicably possible. We are aware that the letters have just been sent out from the City Council to local residents and others and that there is a statutory three week consultation period. We wanted to ensure that residents were given the opportunity to see the changes and discuss them with us as early as we could within that three week period.

We delivered the Newsletters as soon as we could. It took a week for the 2000 copies to be printed and they were delivered to the Club last Tuesday (15th) on the day that the FA Cup tie with Fulham was postponed due to the weather. This meant that one of the exhibition dates had to be moved to accommodate the rearranged date for the Cup tie and all 2000 Newsletters had to be changed by hand.

We believed a week's notice would be sufficient for most people especially as there is a choice of nights to come along. However, we recognise of course that some will not agree with that or are unable to attend because of prior engagements or simply because it is not convenient at that time. That is why we are offering to welcome people to the stadium at any other time during working hours to view the proposals. If they call beforehand to book an appointment we will endeavour to have someone on hand to help them go through the proposed changes.

We are also presenting the proposals before and after the next home game (against Port Vale) on 2 February. This will be outside the "paid area" and so is open to others as well.

How can you guarantee that the ban on student parking will be successful?

There is a signed tenancy agreement which is explicit regarding the no parking of vehicles within the designated area. These will be enforced and breaches in the tenancy agreement could lead to lawful eviction. A no-car policy for student accommodation has worked elsewhere so there is no reason why it shouldn't work here.

Why isn't the RPZ (Residents Parking Zone) bigger?

The boundaries of the RPZ are the result of long discussion with the City Council's highways and traffic experts and are now embodied in the planning permission as part of the s106 agreement.

As a result of those discussions the RPZ has in fact been enlarged from that originally proposed and now includes several additional roads to the west of Gloucester Road.

When will the Stadium Monitoring Group be set up?

Under the terms of the s106 agreement this doesn't need to be set up until just before the new stadium becomes operational. However, the Football Club has proposed that it be set up to coincide with the start of construction so that local residents and others have a forum for discussing that stage of the implementation and raising any concerns or queries they may have.

Who will attend the Stadium Monitoring Group?

A The detail of that has still to be decided. The s106 agreement states that the Group will "comprise a representative from Bristol Rovers Football Club, Bristol Rugby Club, local residents the Council and the Police". The names of individuals have yet to be agreed with the City Council.

What will the remit of the Stadium Monitoring Group be?

A formal remit has yet to be agreed but the s106 agreement states that the Group will "monitor transport issues arising from the use of the new stadium and to suggest solutions and to monitor anti-social behaviour issues that arise in the vicinity of the stadium and to monitor any other issues considered appropriate at the time".

The logistics and remit of the Group will be discussed in due course with the City Council and once we have reached an appropriate point in that process the Football Club is committed to publish a discussion document as was previously stated in the Statement of Community Involvement.

Who will chair the Stadium Monitoring Group?

This has yet to be decided.

The council are inviting people to comment on the new proposals. You have until February 10 to submit your views to the planning department.

You can do this by writing to: Kit Stokes, Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, Brunel House, St George's Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY.

You can also email north.planning@bristol.gov.uk. More details of the new planning application will be posted on this website over the next few days.