Plans to open a Costco warehouse in Gloucester have overcome their first planning hurdle.

The American retail giant has been formally told by the city council it is "unlikely" the development would have a harmful effect on the environment.

It can now forge ahead with detailed plans for the site but is expected to keep its cards close to its chest.

Workers have been at the former Interbrew site off Eastern Avenue since the summer  preparing parts of the 11.5 acre parcel of land for building works.

It has lain empty for six years and the proposals by Costco have been hailed a "shot in the arm" for Gloucester but city council leader Richard Cook.

Costco wants to create a huge single-storey warehouse club for members with a petrol station, tyre installation, sales and associated facilities and a 626 space car park.

The details were revealed as part of an application to Gloucester City Council for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening opinion.

It was submitted by Firstplan on behalf of Costco and said a new pedestrian and cycle path would be created along the front of the site.

Opening hours would be from 10am to 8.30pm from Monday to Friday, Saturdays 9.30am to 7pm and Sundays from 11am to 7pm.

It added: "In the context of existing commercial uses in the area, the proposal is not of an unusual scale, nature or type and would represent a well-designed addition to the area."

The council's response was published on Monday (Oct 30) and said: The site is a brownfield site that is largely flat and currently open following demolition. It is not located within an environmentally sensitive location.

"There is limited vegetation at the site and it is not considered likely to contain significant biodiversity so a significant ecological impact is unlikely."

It concluded: "Effects of the proposal on the environment unlikely to be significant overall, without mitigation measures."

The brownfield site, estimated to be worth £11.8m, has been vacant since 2017 and was flattened after Interbrew ceased trading there.

It has previously been earmarked for at least two large scale developments -the latest a scheme for 14 units known as Centric Park.

Costco first announced its intention to come to Gloucestershire last November and Chase Commercial and Colliers helped it purchase the Eastern Avenue site earlier this year for an undisclosed sum.

Costco declined to comment to Punchline on its plans for the site as it is company policy to not talk publicly about Costco warehouses until three months before they open.