Court date set for Lancs’ stadium battle
THE HIGH Court action being brought by Albert Gubay’s property firm Derwent Holdings against Trafford Council over the redevelopment of the Old Trafford cricket ground is set to be heard in Manchester next month.
Derwent Holdings has sought a Judicial Review over the £70m redevelopment plan approved by the council, which involves a regeneration of Old Trafford coupled with a huge 177,000 sq ft Tesco store for Stretford.
Derwent Holdings had proposed to build a Sainsbury’s store at its own White City retail park nearby and had argued that the area could not support two supermarkets.
A court date for the Judicial Review hearing has been set for February 28th.
Lancashire County Cricket Club chief executive Jim Cumbes said that the court’s intervention would be a “make or break decision” which will be critical to the club’s future and for the fate of international cricket in the region.
“The stakes could not be higher,” said Cumbes.
“The club has spent £1.5m on costs associated with planning, advisors and in particular, Derwent’s delaying tactics. There has also been a £2m reduction in grants as a result of not being able to start the development programme as planned.
“If we cannot bring the ground up to international standard, the North-west will lose Test cricket and the Ashes for good.
“Our plans have been the subject of thorough and detailed consultation. They have been debated exhaustively both locally and nationally. There was a remarkable number of letters of support from ordinary Trafford residents and cricket fans.”
“A key part of our plans are guaranteed local jobs for the unemployed, links to local schools and major community benefits. But Derwent seem to care not a jot about International Cricket, the image of Trafford, or the prospects for local kids and the unemployed.”
He added that Derwent’s action was “about securing commercial gain at the expense of the LCCC’s sporting legacy for schools, community groups and young people in the North West”.
The £32m first phase of the project would deliver new pitches, stands, player and media facilities and an extension of the ground’s indoor cricket school. Two new grandstands and a pavilion will lead to a capacity of 15,000, which could rise to 25,000 with temporary seating.
Alan Burke of Ask Developments, the club’s development partner, said: “Derwent have tried every available means to kill our plans. They are notorious for having a track record for this type of legal action.
“Derwent know we are facing a demanding timetable for delivery – their tactics are designed to have the maximum possible disruption to our programme and delivery of our funding package. They hope we will fail so they can progress their own commercial agenda.”
