Real Madrid Stadium will have retractable roof

Take a tour of the new Bernabeu

Madrid City Council have officially approved Real Madrid's plans to restructure the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Among the most notable parts of the project are a retractable roof for the ground, which could also be home to a shopping area and a hotel.

The plan was approved on Wednesday thanks to an overall successful vote in favour of the process.

Initial plans were discussed between Los Blancos and the city's council in May 2016 and it is expected that the overall cost will rise to 400 million euros.

It is expected that work will begin this summer and will continue throughout 2018 and 2019, although construction will only take place during the football's off-season.

The project was initially approved by the Government Board on February 16 and after considering four protestations, announced that it would be given the green light.

"We think this is a good project for the city of Madrid," said the delegate for Sustainable Urban Development, Jose Manuel Calvo.

Similar plans had been turned down in the past by the courts for failing to receive the proper planning permission, amongst other things.

A 2012 plan to increase the height of the stadium and create new, small grassier areas around the area had previously been rejected.

The new project wants to add an additional 90,000 square metres of space to the venue, with an additional 12 metres being added to the height of the ground, an extension which is necessary to install the retractable roof cover.

The stands will be redesigned, the Real Madrid Museum will be expanded, while accessibility and exit systems are also to be improved with a 6,000 square metre garden area to be created.

The space between the Paseo de la Castella and the West Stand of the stadium, currently a parking zone, will become a public square for pedestrian use.