AC Milan have cleared a major hurdle in their plans to build a new stadium after their bid to acquire the land to build on was approved.

Milan, who currently share the ageing municipal San Siro stadium with rivals Inter Milan, are planning to build a 48,000-capacity arena in time for the 2018-19 campaign.

"It is the first historic step," said club director Barbara Berlusconi. "It is a first step because we will have to submit the entire project to the institutions for approval."