Work on the massive New Trafford development will go ahead after it got the nod from the government for the second time.
Lancashire County Cricket Club and Tesco have held off on starting work on a £32m revamp of the stadium and the building of a 100,000 sq ft superstore on Chester Road while Whitehall considered another review of the bid.
But communities and local government minister Eric Pickles now says he will not 'call in' the plan, a move which would have led to a public inquiry.
The controversial scheme was granted planning permission in March and initially approved by the government.
But last month, the government ordered a delay in any work while it considered a threat of legal action from the owners of White City Retail Park, Derwent Holdings Ltd over a rejected rival bid.
A letter sent to Trafford Council last night confirmed the government are happy with the plans, a move which Lancashire says will secure Test match cricket to Old Trafford and open the way to the ground hosting an Ashes Test in 2013.
Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes said: "We can now press on with redeveloping the famous Old Trafford cricket ground and securing our place as one of the world’s best cricketing arenas."
The scheme, which will see the creation of around 500 new jobs at the superstore as well as transforming the cricket ground, has been met with opposition from local traders, residents and some councillors fearing the Tesco store could kill off surrounding shops and cause traffic chaos.
Leader of the opposition, Labour councillor David Action said: "I'm very surprised by the government's decision. This was a very controversial plan and there were so many flaws in that original decision to grant planning permission."
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OH NO!!
NOT ANOTHER TESCOS!
Oh Lancy Lancy
Great news, Old Trafford ground badly needed this. Ashes test will be back in Manchester :)
From the artist's impression it looks as if they plan to turn the wicket 90 degrees as part of the development. Is that a new media centre or stand opposite the pavilion?
Just curious to know if that correct or just not a very accurate picture above?
Great news for Lancashire and the region as a whole - we need first class sporting facilities.
It looks rancid.
As with any business, you have to move with the times. I think it looks smart. Where would the Tescos be going? Just off sight?
cant believe they're knocking the old clubhouse down.
redevelop fine, but don't blot out the history and the character.
At last, hopefully there won't be any more hold ups.
Can't understand how this got the go ahead when less than a mile away Sainsbury was turned down. Traffic on match days is going to be horrendous where as it would more off a steady flow of traffic heading into white City for Sainsbury. Does not the goverment think Tesco have enough retail premises going on? No doubt the owner/directors must have made a massive donation to the conversative party!!!
all this hype about test cricket and sporting venue is a load of old cobblers. i am born and bred on greatstone road and the only locals i know who go to watch the paint dry at the cricket ground are those who work there.
this is all we need now more traficc in the area, and whilst your wife and kids are shopping in tescos who is going to control the hordes of yobs looking for cheap beer before the match, i am sure if a dozen mates go in the supermarket and nick a couple of bottles whiskey the security guards can,t watch everyone of them.
improve the ground yes. tescos no.
p.s. i am 74 years old and allways shopped at tescos so i am not anti- tesco
The people of trafford are being asked to endure cuts in services because the council has to save about £60,000,000 over the next 4 years, proposals include job losses closing elderly persons homes, snatching back cash from schools etc and yet here they are giving away £21,000,000 of public money to a private company, if they didn't give this money to LCC, then the savings would be only £39,000,000 or about £10,000,000 a year instead of £15,000,000.
Come on Trafford,get your priorities right, the people of Trafford or a private company, which means more to you, Why not put it to a referendum and let the people decide.
Victory! Ignore the scaremongers, Unicorn Grocery & Barbacan Bakery won't go bust, neither will Chorlton's trendy bars & little specialist shops. Some businesses may close but every single one of them will be bog standard off licences.
And to all of you who say there will be too much traffic, when do you plan to re-locate Manchester United?
Oh, to answer Mark Halton, they aren't knocking the clubhouse down. they going to build around and above it. Not sure I approve of that but it's better than getting rid of it altogether.