Published: 05/03/2010 11:21:16 | Modified: 08/03/2010 10:55:03
Author: Andy Wilson | All Contributors
Green light for Old Trafford redevelopment plans
Lancashire have cleared a significant hurdle in their battle to redevelop Old Trafford and secure its future as a Test venue, as local planning officers have endorsed their £21million plans ahead of a crucial council meeting next week.
However the club adopted a deliberately downbeat tone today, as two more major obstacles remain.
The recommendation to give the go-ahead to Lancashire’s scheme, which includes a new Tesco superstore, will be discussed at a planning meeting of Trafford Council on March 11.
Trafford Council could still opt to send the scheme for national review at Government level, which would be almost as bad as an outright rejection for Lancashire as it would incur significant extra costs, and rule out any chance of bidding for an Ashes Test in the 2013 series.
The situation is further complicated by a separate application from property developers based on the Isle of Man to build a Sainsbury's store on the nearby White City Retail Park.
The Trafford planning officers have recommended that the Council rejects that application. But, for Lancashire, the nervous wait continues.