Weymouth Football Club today revealed the target date for the opening of a long-awaited new leisure and retail complex.

Officials, who plan to lodge a formal planning application for the proposed Wessex Stadium development later this year, hope to move into a new complex in August 2007.

The scheme involves Asda relocating from its harbourside store to open a new 91,000 sq ft store at the Wessex Stadium, nearly double the size of its current Newstead Road home.

In addition to the new Wessex Stadium superstore, a smaller Asda would be sited elsewhere in Weymouth town centre. New sporting facilities - including a new 6,000 capacity stadium for the Terras - would be built next to the existing ground, land currently occupied by a pitch and putt golf course.

Around 200 extra jobs would also be created, says retail giant Asda.

Terras owner Martyn Harrison and Asda say the multi-million pound project remains on track and negotiations are now taking place to purchase land involved in the scheme.

Mr Harrison said: "Everything is ticking along nicely at the moment and we've set a date of August 2007 to hopefully move into our new stadium and open the new Asda. At the moment we're in talks with various interested parties about purchasing the land required for the new stadium complex.

"These negotiations obviously take time to sort out, but we're satisfied with the way they are going."

The project could receive a major boost when a Government inspector reports later this year on whether planning authority West Dorset District Council should designate the Wessex Stadium site for future retail use.

An inquiry was told in April that extra bus routes would run to the site, while Weymouth Football Club would use a car park facility separate to the new store.

West Dorset said it was against the scheme because Asda had not looked hard enough for a new site nearer the town centre.

Mr Harrison said: "Ourselves and Asda were pleased with the way the hearing with the Government inspector went and now we're waiting to hear what she has to say. After she reports back, we hope to lodge a planning application for the entire scheme with West Dorset.

"Fingers crossed, that will go through okay and then we can start building work early next year with a view to moving out of our current ground and straight into the new stadium in time for the 2007/08 season."

West Dorset planning and environment director David Evans said the council had not designated the land for retail use because not enough evidence had been presented.

"The Government has strict tests for out-of-town retail outlets which any scheme has to meet.

"The hearing examined all the planning issues surrounding the site, including location, scale, traffic impact and a proper sequential search of other possible sites in the area.

"The council expects to receive the inspector's report about the whole inquiry, including this issue, later in the year.

"After this West Dorset District Council is keen to work through proper planning processes to develop a sound retail strategy with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council."