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Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council; Simon Bate, chair of New east Manchester and Garry Cook, chief executive officer of MCFC sign the agreement

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7:41 am, March 12, 2010
Man City confirms training ground move and stadium extension plans

Manchester City Football Club has confirmed that it may relocate its training ground to a site close to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The plans are part of wide-ranging development proposals for the Eastlands area which have previously been reported in Crain's.

It was announced today that Manchester City Football Club has signed an agreement to set up a Joint Development Board with Manchester City Council and the New East Manchester Urban Regeneration Company covering 200 acres of land in Beswick and Openshaw.

The club, owned by Abu Dhabi royal family member Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is expected to move its training ground from Carrington in Trafford to a 60 acre site on the opposite side of Ashton New Road from the stadium.

Also as previously reported in Crain's, the plans for the area around the stadium include an unspecified major leisure scheme and a new retail area known as City Street, which will be sited to the north of the stadium on Joe Mercer Way and North Plaza.

There are also plans for the north stand at the council-owned stadium, on which the club has a 250-year lease, to be extended to bring the ground capacity up to 60,000. This would make it the country's fourth largest after Wembley, Old Trafford and Arsenal's ground the Emirates Stadium.

Later this afternoon, the city council issued a further statement saying that the work of the Joint Development Board "may lead the creation of further football facilities in the longer term, however any speculation regarding potential plans and associated investment and expenditure is pure supposition and grossly premature".

City council leader Sir Richard Leese said the objective was to create a year-round destination that enhances the reputation of the city, while the club wants the development to aid its efforts to build a global brand. More details of the scheme are expected to be unveiled next week at MIPIM, the international property show in Cannes, when Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook will share a platform with city council officials.

The city council said in a statement today: "A Joint Development Board (JDB) has been formed between the three parties, which will harness the respective strengths of the constituent members – Manchester City Council's and New east Manchester's land ownership, their proven track record in regeneration, and their access to public funding together with Manchester City Football Club's commercial leverage with brand partners and history of investment in all aspects of the club's development.

"The agreement creates the opportunity for a long-term partnership between Manchester City Council, NEM and MCFC, to develop their mutual ambitions for the area. All of the parties share the desire for any commercial development to deliver long lasting economic and community growth to the east Manchester area."

It said the aim was to deliver a better space for fans on match days as well as providing year round activity for residents and new visitors on non-match days, "thereby truly embedding the stadium in the heart of its east Manchester community".

In the medium to longer term, the JDB will look at proposals for the commercial development of land held by the three parties and will look to capitalise on the opportunities to further regenerate east Manchester and to create a nationally significant destination.

The council said the three parties own about 200 acres, including the existing Sportcity campus and 59 acres of land in Openshaw West owned by Manchester City Football Club.

"The Club has confirmed that it is its intention that over time, the potential development of this land would form part of its contribution to the regeneration of east Manchester," the council added.

Manchester City Football Club has spent 14 months studying elite sporting facilities around the world to help decide what facilities to build in east Manchester.

City council leader Sir Richard said: “The collective strength of the Council and the Club, two very ambitious partners, will be the engine of economic growth and will build on the regeneration work already in evidence in the area. From the securing of the Metrolink tram system to the building of world class sporting facilities in and around Sportcity, there has already been real vision in creating a sustainable future for east Manchester.

“The City of Manchester Stadium has also been a credit to the city and this further investment will enable local people who can work to work, will give our young people the best possible start in life and will make east Manchester a place in which to work, invest, live and visit.”

Simon Bate, Chair of New east Manchester Ltd added: "This agreement is truly pivotal for this area. It will gives us the chance to restore economic dynamism to east Manchester, enabling businesses, local residents and football supporters alike to benefit from future investment.

“The City of Manchester Stadium and Sportcity facilities have been central to raising the profile of east Manchester and have inspired confidence and new investment here. The creation of a destination leisure opportunity in east Manchester has been a core element of our vision for the area and our ability to give real consideration to this now is truly exciting."

Garry Cook, chief executive of Manchester City, said: “Manchester City has been and always will be at the heart of the community it serves in the City of Manchester. The longer term considerations for the area reflect the long term commitment of our owners to the club and the community it serves.” Comments?manchesternews@crain.com