It's vital that we know what you think of this scheme. It's a hugely ambitious plan with the broad objective:
To secure a comprehensive regeneration strategy for the cricket ground and its environs that will deliver, and secure for the long term, a world class cricket stadium, with world class spectator, player, training and educational facilities supporting both professional and grass roots cricket.
To maximise the benefits of the re-development opportunity, the cricket club believe it is necessary to consider with partners the wider physical, economic and social opportunities which can be exploited by major investment in Old Trafford and the significant benefits that will accrue in bringing forward the ground’s re-development as part of a substantive new mixed use regeneration initiative.
*extracted from Old Trafford Regeneration Framework Document
Whilst the cricket ground regeneration is at the heart of the scheme, the framework document encompasses radical changes to a much greater area of Gorse Hill and Old Trafford, reaching out to Stretford High School and Chester Road.
Old Trafford has been a venue for test cricket since 1884 when it hosted its first test match between England and Australia. It is second only to the Oval in the number of test matches to have been played there. It is the only test venue in the North West.
However, Old Trafford no longer meets basic requirements and falls well short of meeting the growing expectations of influential decision makers in the sport. The facilities are outdated and tired. Consequently Lancashire has already “lost” the hugely popular and highly beneficial 2009 “Ashes Test” to Cardiff. This loss is a serious blow to the Club and the region.
The limitations on the revenues achieved by hosting even international cricket - and the substantial costs associated with delivering county cricket matches and year round ground management, maintenance and staffing costs - that Lancashire, in common with almost all other county ground, has been unable to make any major investment in Old Trafford for many years.
*extracted from Old Trafford Regeneration Framework Document
Owing to the financial burdens imposed by the prospective redevelopment costs of the cricket ground, the Club and its partners have considered a range of potential land use options that will drive sufficient value to create the capital receipts necessary to enable a viable development solution for Old Trafford to emerge. This process has included consideration of a range of end uses, including cricket and entertainment, hotels, conferencing, corporate hospitality, community sport and training, housing and employment uses, retailing, open space and public realm provision.
They have defined the area of consideration by this regeneration framework on a broad basis. It includes not only land owned and occupied by Lancashire CCC but also Stretford High School, Trafford College, GM Police, Trafford Council, Kellogg’s, Tesco and others.
*extracted from Old Trafford Regeneration Framework Document
Tesco's have already been granted planning permission to develop a supermarket with a floorspace of 4506sq m. Permission was refused to develop a much larger (7836sq m) Tesco's Extra Store at the same site. Tesco appealed against this refusal but were unsuccessful (H/61731).
Tesco's have never progressed development of the smaller store and the land has been dormant for the last 5 years.
Controversially, the masterplan suggests we're back to a large store. The cricket club makes no secret that it needs partnerships to make the ground redevelopment viable financially and Tesco's are seen by them as key to the whole package.
The issues that led to refusal of planning permission have not gone away such as:
Residents of the Gorse Hill neighbourhood complain to us that they don't have access to choice in shopping. Most of the retail in the immediate area is focused on the football trade; and Tesco's would also bring jobs.
Unquestionably, a larger Tesco would have a detrimental effect on Stretford Mall. Urmston Town Centre is nearing opening (July 09) and competition from Urmston is going hit Stretford long before Tesco's Old Trafford does. Stretford does need a viable shopping area but the Mall was designed in another era (UK's first Arndale) and it's showing its age.
The 'vitality and viability' of Stretford Mall is a question that perhaps needs to be asked at source; and quickly.
We are extremely concerned about the affect on the traffic flow and the levels of noise and disturbance. We do have concerns about the effect on the neighbouring town centres, even if we do believe that Stretford Mall needs to get its act together.
This is an extremely controversial proposal and we want you to have your say. We will keep updating this site to keep you informed as we get more details.
Any councillors who are members of the planning committee (currently Clr Cordingley and Clr Walsh) are required to reserve judgement until they are presented with the full submission together with planning guidance.
Academies are all-ability state schools, established where there is evidence of underperformance in existing education, or where there is a clear demand for new school places. Academies are established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds. By law they are independent schools and they operate largely independently of Local Authorities.
*extracted from The latest annual report of the Academies Program
The trigger for an Academy to be considered in Gorse Hill is the lack of sustainable numbers of children enrolling at nearby Lostock College. The council is clearly inclined towards the view that a brand new Academy to replace both Lostock and Stretford High School is the best solution. No final decisions have been taken but an expression of interest has been summitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Report presented to Trafford Council Executive in November 2008
The decision of the Executive (Nov 2008)Lostock College has had millions of pounds spent on it with an enviable arts complex and studios but much of the building remains substandard. The question is whether with the required commitment of stakeholders (the council and DCSF) working with the school, it can be made attractive to parents and children. The Stretford High School site is on the small-side to accomodate a new academy and there are worries that if it can't expand outwards it would have to expand upwards.
We do need a decision; Stretford High has funds allocated to build a sports barn onsite and those funds have had to have been carried forward for two years now. But we also need the views of parents from both schools.
A brand new state of the art academy does have its merits and the investment of £24m into Gorse Hill can not be refused lightly. Stretford High have been working closely with Trafford College and the Cricket Club in developing proposals; it's now time to get your views.
We have no details of what is happening to Trafford College but the masterplan design map shows it gone. The same could be said of Stretford Police Station, but we do know that Trafford College have been working actively in partnership with
the cricket club and feel it is unlikely that the map was drawn without the college's knowledge or collaboration.
Comment on our blog or write to your Labour Team for Gorse Hill; details on our contact page.
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Special Neighbourhood Forum
There is to be a Special Neighbourhood Forum to discuss the plans for the overall vision for the redevelopment of Lancashire Cricket Ground & the surrounding area. LCCC and its development partners, including ASK Property Developments Limited, have prepared a Sports-led Regeneration Framework document which aims to set out this vision. It is intended that this document will inform the preparation of future detailed development proposals in the area.
The Cricket Ground at the core of area renewal.
This is a huge project and it has affects far beyond the Gorse Hill vicinity. It has really exciting aspects and others that will need careful consideration. There will inevitably be choices to be made and the extent to which the whole package 'hangs together' is something that will need to be tested.
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