There have been late twists and turns, but Stockport County's plan to redevelop Edgeley Park looks set to go ahead this week.

The council's planning committee is meeting at the town hall on Thursday to decide proposals to boost the stadium's capacity.

This would add 7,400 seats and bring the total number of supporters in the ground to more than 18,000, with a new east stand and south stand.

A planning application for the near £50m investment could have been granted in July, but a 'late and lengthy' objection from wildlife campaigners forced a delay.

The Edgeley Wildlife Reserve group urged the plans to be rethought, with concerns about the loss of natural green land behind the south stand, earmarked to become a car park.

Rob Eyre, one of the campaigners, claimed the space is a 'sanctuary teeming with life' in an urban Stockport neighbourhood.

But the group was accused of a 'deliberate attempt' at stopping progress, with an Edgeley councillor saying that their late objection offered 'nothing substantively different' to previous concerns.

(Image - Stockport County)

An expanded stadium in the heart of Stockport is thought to be vital to County's future.

Last season, the club reached the League One playoff semi finals but lost out to Leyton Orient on penalties.

Long-term, the ambition is to climb up a division and secure a return to Championship-level football.

John Bilsbury, from Stockport County Supporters' Co-operative, pointed out that attendances at the historic ground are growing.

"The club will have over 7,000 season ticket holders this season, and expect league games to sell out on a regular basis," he said.

"This limits the potential of the club and their capacity to be competitive, as the capacity of Edgeley Park is just under 11,000, and the average attendance in the Championship was over 22,000 last season."

The club also says that it is looking to 'maximise its contribution to the town and its residents' through community activities and education, as well as more fans being a boost for local traders.

Home to Stockport County since 1902, Edgeley Park is just days away from a new future.