City have been given a yellow card after making extensions to their training ground without asking for planning permission.
The Blues put up a media centre and gatehouse at their Carrington complex and made a series of extensions under their previous owners after moving there in the 1990s.
But they failed to get council approval for the improvements, which were made during the 90s and early 2000 before the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour.
The blunder has been described as ‘an own goal’ by one councillor.
Red-faced officials have now been given retrospective planning permission – and a rap on the knuckles.
The improvements also included a new laundry store, maintenance buildings, physiotherapy suite and toilet block and were carried out over a number of years.
They came to light after the club came clean and arranged a number of site inspections. They told Trafford council they were prepared to take any criticism on the chin.
Councillor Vivienne Ward praised the Blues and said: “This was an own goal but we can move on from here.
“We want them in our borough. I don't know many boroughs that can say they are home to not one but two Premier League training grounds.”
But Councillor Philip Gratrix stuck the boot in.
He said: “This is one of the largest, if not the richest clubs in the world.
“They knew full well when they took on the training ground that they were in the green belt, and they need reminding of that.”
A Blues spokesman said: “We undertook a study of Carrington Lane in 2008/9 and having met with Trafford council, recognised that over a number of years, prior to the current ownership, various schemes of work had been undertaken without appropriate consent.
“In order to ensure that all its properties and responsibilities are undertaken with due regard to legislation and local requirement and expectation, the club itself initiated meetings and the appointment of a property agent to make good past omissions and ensure compliancy both now and in the future.”
mike.keegan@men-news.co.uk
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Nice to see Trafford Coucil know their place.....
''This is one of the largest, if not richest clubs in the world'' a councillor said.
Exactly, so shut up and get on with other, more pressing issues in the area.
Sheer arrogance by Manchester's little club.
I presume the council has the power to enforce draconian penalties on this club..so why let them off?
Surely they were well aware of what they were doing,so why not make an example of them,if only to deter other organisations from doing the same?
So the training ground isn't in Manchester?
But Councillor Philip Gratrix stuck the boot in.
He said: “This is one of the largest, if not the richest clubs in the world.
“They knew full well when they took on the training ground that they were in the green belt, and they need reminding of that.”
What an idiot.The improvements wqere done in the 90's and early 2000...years before the Sheik took over
same old citeh, and all those citeh fans that criticised G Nevs plans regarding green belt land etc and your went ahead and built your trampy clubs extensions without planning permission! tut tut tut when will you ever learn to do things the guinness way = patience!
Is this news????????????????????????
Wonder who this Gratrix fella supports then? Moron
Bit of a non-story really....City greatly improved a bit of a run down complex they bought from Manchester University and like many other businesses they have obtained retrospective planning permission for remidal work carried out. The work carried out has caused no problems to locals. I think Trafford council should be more concerned as to what will happen to the land when City move out in the next few years to thier new training centre next to the stadium.
What this story clearly shows is that the new owners are here for the long term, and that they do things right for themselves and the club.
No cutting corners, no expense spared. Prudent, ethical management.
Carlsberg don't do football club owners..... but if they did......
So, let me get this right. The only property that Manchester City actually own is in the Borough of Trafford?
I've heard that City did actually ask for planning permission.
However, when one of the improvements listed was for a trophy room, the council thought it was a wind up and binned the plans......
Councillor Vivienne Ward praised the Blues and said: “This was an own goal but we can move on from here. “We want them in our borough"
Yes I bet you do - as your colleague pointed out, one of the largest and probably the richest club in the world.
Or shall we just up sticks and leave the rather grotty area to the council and the swamp dwellers next door and move to a much nicer area such as Cheshire. After all, building a new training complex would be funded by the loose change down the back of the sofas on any one of the yachts
Muppets!
typical us. nothing suprises me any more
What a surprise! Dirty Trafford fans on here sticking their noses in to a story that doesn't involve them, AGAIN!
Carrington,.....! Green belt !!! That area is a dump, chemical works, substations the lot.
And then City's New owners try to right the wrongs of previous owners and it ends up in the press as another dig at the club.
Absolutely unbelievable, ....I certainly won't be buying a MEN ever in the future !!
Steve Wilson really needs to stop commenting on here! He really is giving the Salford Red Sox boys a bad name! Ha ha ha ha!!
Why has it took so long to bring this issue up.
Me thinks these counsellors are Salford United fans and are trying to stir thins up.
They should watch what they say because our owners can quite easily build a new state of the art ground without blinking a eye and leave another council with a ground on their hands.
Anyway we are going to build a state of the art training complex next to the ground,so we can say goodbye to Trafford and leave it to Salford United.
'But they failed to get council approval for the improvements, which were made during the 90s and early 2000 before the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour. '
They didnt move in until June 1999, so claiming they made changes in the '90's' is a little over exaggerating it as they were only there for 6 months of it, pity the MEN cant get their dates right as they have intimated that City have been there for about 15 years or so reading the article.
THE DUMP IS THE OLD SHELL CLUB WITH A BIT OF BITTER BLUE PAINT ON IT . L.U.H.C........................
Sorry I saw the headline and thought the lack of planning was to do with the team,good job I am a blue with a sense of humour