ATHLETES in York are set to stay at their current home next year following a fresh delay in the city’s community stadium project.

The 6,000-seat ground at Monks Cross is now unlikely to be completed until the start of 2016.

City of York Council says hold-ups to a neighbouring £90 million shopping development, which is providing funding for the scheme, have had a knock-on effect on the stadium.

The delays were caused by protected great crested newts being found at the shopping site. York City Knights and City of York Athletic Club will now spend next year at their current Huntington Stadium home, which is ultimately earmarked for demolition to make way for the new community stadium that will also house York City FC.

The athletics club’s new track at York Sport Village, on the University of York’s Heslington East campus, is now also set to open in 2014.

Coun Sonja Crisp, the council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “Both the council and the university are committed to supporting athletics in the city and delivering new athletics facilities for York.

“We are currently finalising the terms of agreement and specifications for the [athletics] facilities to be operational in 2014. We are working closely with the athletics club to ensure their transition from Huntington Stadium to the new track runs smoothly and there is no gap in provision.”

Coun Crisp said arrangements were currently being made for both the rugby league and athletics clubs to continue using Huntington Stadium next year to avoid disruption, and the athletics club would move as soon as the new facilities were operational.

Athletics club chairman Neil Hunter welcomed the news, saying: “The club has actively increased participation over a number of years in anticipation of [the new athletics facilities], and consequently space at the existing facility is at a premium. The move cannot come soon enough. I believe the council and university share the same vision for a community-based athletics club in York and the assurances we have received fully support this.

“I am confident the new facilities will further increase the number of participants able to enjoy athletics.”