Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane looks set to be granted an expansion just weeks after rivals Sheffield Wednesday got the go ahead to start work on Hillsborough.

The Blades have submitted an application to take the capacity to 44,500 seats in a bid to host 2018 World Cup matches if Sheffield are chosen as a host city for the proposed 2018 tournament in England. However, only one of United and Wednesday would be able to stage games if Sheffield were granted host city status.

Planners said: “This enlargement is part of the club’s aspirations to create a FIFA-compliant stadium in support of Sheffield bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup and also in support of the club’s desire to secure and exploit Premier League status in the long term.”

Only three people have objected saying that the plans would create increased traffic, littering and there would be insufficient parking for supporters.