The finished stadium is expected to hold up to 30,000 fans

Three planning applications were granted permission on Wednesday following the approval of two others in December.

The planned shops have been criticised by some retailers, who fear they could affect city centre trade.

Club chief executive David Temme said building should begin in May.

The three applications granted on Wednesday mean branches of Matalan and Costco can open on the site in the Leckwith area of the city, along with one other unnamed retailer.

With further hard work and a fair wind we should start construction in May David Temme

Mr Temme said the building of the stadium relied heavily on funding from the shop scheme and would not have gone ahead without it.

"For our part we still have a great deal to do," he said.

"We need to get Council approval of our business plan which, for the record, was first submitted to the Council almost two and a half years ago.

"We must also finalise the contractors and the designs but with further hard work and a fair wind we should start construction in May of this year with completion of our stadium about 18 months later."

There are hopes of accommodating up to 60,000 fans in the future

It will replace the Bluebirds' current home at Ninian Park and could be extended to accommodate 60,000 spectators.

Cardiff planning committee chair, Gill Bird, denied the planning process had been delayed at any stage, but said she was "delighted" a decision had been reached.

However, David Hughes-Lewis, chair of the Cardiff Retail Partnership, has previously said the scheme would "jeopardise the city centre".