Roma unveiled plans for a new 52,500-seat stadium nearly two years ago. GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

Serie A club Roma have suffered a setback in their bid to build a new stadium in the Italian capital after the city council refused to grant planning permission.

The Giallorossi unveiled plans for a new 52,500-seater stadium almost two years ago, yet bureaucratic red tape has repeatedly delayed the start of work on its construction. Roma president James Pallotta said late last year that he was hopeful the council would grant planning permission so that work could commence in March, but it is instead going to be a case of back to the drawing board.

The city council determined that there were too many issues with the plans that needed to be looked at before planning permission could be granted. Concerns were raised about security around the stadium, including traffic reservations, while the area the stadium is due to be built on is also deemed to be at risk of flooding.

A list of modifications were provided in the 76-page document published on the Region of Lazio's website on Thursday, however, giving Roma the opportunity to submit revised plans to obtain planning permission.

Nevertheless, their hopes of having the stadium built and ready for 2019 look to have been dashed by the latest obstacle.