WORKING ON: OLD TRAFFORD CRICKET GROUND
Redevelopment 2003-2013
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Following rejection of plans, in 2003, to sell Old Trafford, and move the club to a new purpose-built stadium in East Manchester,[1] the focus was switched to upgrading the current ground. Lancashire CCC, with a coalition of businesses, are in the process of making the cricket ground the centre of an anticipated 750,000 sq ft (70,000 m2) development, in a mixed-use scheme involving business, residential, retail, hotel and leisure facilities.[2]
Work has already been completed on 'The Point', Old Trafford's distinctive £12 million conference centre. In 2009, the Stretford Lane end of the ground was closed to facilitate destruction of the County Suite, Tyldesley Suite, 'K' and 'L' Stands and the scoreboard;[3] The Point, one of the largest conference facilities in the North West,[4] overshadowing new seating to the west of the pavilion, opened in June 2010.[5]
The 2010/11 winter saw the historic turning of the wickets from their previous East-West axis to a more typical North-South alignment,[6] which prevents the low evening sun from interfering with matches, and increased the number of available wickets by five, to sixteen. This has led to many of Lancashire's home games for the 2011 season being transferred to out grounds, while the new wickets 'bed in'.
The main planning process began in September 2008,[7] but has faced stiff legal opposition. Since Tesco pledged £21 million to the redevelopment, the stadium planning application included a request for a new supermarket nearby. Following a consultation period which drew significant numbers of both positive and negative views, Trafford Council gave this joint proposal full permission on 11 March 2010.[8]
Following the 2010 General Election, this decision was called in by the Communities Secretary for Judicial Review, although the decision was later taken, in September, not to hold a public enquiry.[9] Derwent Holdings, a property development company denied permission to build a supermarket at the nearby White City retail park, then called for a Judicial Review, arguing that the application had been confused by the inclusion of the Tesco's store. This application was turned down by the High Court in March 2011, but Derwent Holdings took their case to the Court of Appeal. This was greeted with some disapproval, not only from LCCC and its partners, but also Manchester United and Manchester City, and celebrities such as Andrew Flintoff.[10][11] LCCC took the risky decision to begin work ahead of the matter being resolved, in order to qualify for grants from the North West Development Agency before it was wound up.[12] However, the Court of Appeal ruled in LCCC's favour in July 2011, and denied leave to further appeal the decision.[10][13]
A new video screen and permanent floodlights were installed under this permission by June 2011.[14] The timescale for further development has been repeatedly pushed back but should, at latest estimates, begin in September 2011 (a year later than originally envisaged[15]) and be completed in time for an Ashes test in 2013 - a test which LCCC has always planned to bid for, and placed at the heart of its arguments against delays.[11][13]
This phase of redevelopment will see a new "Players, Media and Education" Pavilion built on the site of the Washbrook-Statham stand; members will continue to use the present Pavilion, which will have its sloped roof replaced with two modern glass storeys. At the same time, another building similar in design to The Point, and two 2-tiered cantilever stands, will be erected, flanking the new pavilion, and a canopy will be built over the Old Trafford Lodge, in order to standardise the ground's look.[7][16] It is unclear whether it will be necessary to fully close the stadium throughout 2012 to facilitate these works.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Mortimer, Old Trafford, xxiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Four-way agreement on Old Trafford future". LCCC. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchesterwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Point". LCCC. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ "The Point is Open for Business". LCCC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "New 'Ends' Named". LCCC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ a b "Lancashire Unveils the New Old Trafford". LCCC. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ "Lancashire Gain Planning Permission". LCCC. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- ^ "Old Trafford Redevelopment Gets Go-Ahead". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ a b "Biggest Day in Old Trafford's History". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ a b "Latest Legal Challenge to the Club". LCCC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Lancashire CCC Starts Work". BBC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ a b "Day of Destiny Ends in Victory". LCCC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Let There Be Lights". LCCC. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Lancashire will turn pitch in 2010". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
- ^ "Trafford Council Planning Application Documents". Trafford Council. Retrieved 2010-03-12.