FC United | Moston Community Stadium | 5,000 Capacity | App

[RMB2007]

FC United stadium: Proper legal checks for planning approval were ‘ignored’, court hears

Manchester council’s decision to grant planning approval for FC United’s 5,000-capacity stadium was made without proper legal checks, a court has heard.

Permission for the ground, on Ronald Johnson Playing Fields off Lightbowne Road in Moston, was given last year.

A judicial review into the decision to approve the planning application was told that environmental impact assessments into potential noise and traffic pollution, required by law, were not made ahead of the decision.

The town hall claims the assessments were discretionary and that conditions attached to the approval would offset any negative impacts of the development.

Hugh Richards, representing the Residents United Residents Association which opposes the plans, claimed the council had acted illegally through not understanding planning laws.

He said: "The negative effects of the development are being dismissed because they are defined as ‘localised’ and not because they are not significant. The conclusion was being reached that these issues will only be of local significance and therefore the impact was not considered sufficient to warrant an impact assessment.

"The authority’s approach has been to identify the potential impact and then dismiss it as localised. This is a misunderstanding of what’s laid out in planning regulations."

The council was spelling out its position to the review, at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, today. The case is expected to conclude tomorrow.

FC United, formed in protest at the Glazer family’s takeover of Manchester United, had hoped to start work on the new ground this summer. They play at Bury’s Gigg Lane ground and have never had a stadium of their own.

FC United had originally planned to build their ground on Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath, but a late switch in council funding scuppered the proposals. The stadium is set to cost about £4.6m and the club has raised the cash through fundraising and grants.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...ed-court-hears

[TheGrand]

Evening News reporting on the day where the No Group Barrister had the floor for the entire day. That was Tuesday

Council and FC Barristers spoke yesterday, not expecting the Evening News to give this day a particular positive stance unfortunately.

Judge will now decide in the New Year

[TheGrand]

Ah no, The Evening News did not go for fair, instead they go with......errrrrr, Bury could share with FC?

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...attling-locals

Keep up the good work MEN

FC United ‘could let a top club use stadium’ claim battling locals

FC United’s new stadium could be used by the club to ground-share with another professional team, opponents of the plan have claimed.

A judicial review into the application for the 5,000-capacity ground in Moston heard that the club has agreed with the council that no more than 50 games a season will be played.

But local opponents say planning reports were based on just 30 matches a year.

And they claim the extra capacity opens the door to FC United inviting another professional club in to the ground.

Barristers for FC United told the court that local side Moston Juniors would be invited to use the ground for big games, and residents ‘wouldn’t even notice’.

But Hugh Richards, representing the Residents United Residents Association, said: "The club is not prevented by any planning regulations to saying to another club – for example Bury – ‘come and play at our stadium’ and that is what concerns residents.

"There has been no noise report carried out that has said whether or not having 50 games at this stadium is acceptable."

FC United currently play 21 home games a season as a Northern Premier League side. If the club was drawn at home in every round of the three cup competitions they are eligible to enter, they would host 43 matches.

Sasha White, representing the club, said: "The reason we’ve agreed to a limit of 50 is so that Moston Juniors can be allowed to use the stadium pitch.

"One can reasonably forsee that unless Moston Juniors welcome a guest appearance from Messi or Ronaldo they will draw nowhere near enough of a crowd to make noise."

The court also heard the project could yet collapse if delays forced the Football Foundation and Sport England to withdraw £1.4 million funding. In total the development is set to cost £5.3m with £1.725m coming from donations by club members.

The hearing, at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, came after residents claimed the decision to grant planning permission was illegal as proper impact assessments were not carried out.

Richard Drabble QC, representing the council, told the court that following an initial ‘screening process’ the assessments were not required by law.

He said: "These impacts were of limited magnitude, of limited complexity, were confined to a local area, were entirely predictable and could be mitigated.

"The actions taken were for the judgement of the planning authority and wholly consistent with guidelines from the Court of Appeal."

A decision is expected early next year.

[heatonparkincakes]

Actually. O Grand, the brief for the RURA is claiming this.

The MEN is reporting this.

Result in the new year, what ever.

If you lot win, then the new ground will be open in September.

If you lose then I guess the ground will emerge phoenix like somewhere else in Manchester like magic.

And If elsewhere, I hear Moston will be the new home to a large travelers community in a newly vacant field.

I have a big coat to donate this winter. Any suggestions Grand?

[jrb]

Won the case. Pending an appeal?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....es-bid-1243094

[RMB2007]

FC United move step closer to new stadium goal

Judge says worried residents cannot appeal as proposals outline a 5,000-capacity venue

FC United have cleared another hurdle in their battle to build a new stadium after a judge refused residents opposed to the plan the opportunity to appeal.

The non-league club have been at the centre of a long-running legal battle over their proposals for a 5,000-capacity home in Moston.

Residents opposed to the project forced a judicial review into Manchester council’s decision to grant planning permission for the stadium on the site of the Ronald Johnson Playing Fields.

At that hearing, a High Court judge ruled that the decision should stand.

Opponents of the stadium continued their fight, seeking another hearing at the Court of Appeal.

The M.E.N. understands a Court of Appeal judge has now refused that request.

It means the stadium opponents have only one last chance to seek an oral hearing to put their case forward.

They have seven days to seek such a hearing - but may be hampered if they are unable to secure legal aid to fund their solicitors’ fees.

If they fail the nomadic Rebels, formed in 2005 in protest at the Glazer family’s ownership of Manchester United, will be able to start work on a new home in the city. Andy Walsh, general manager of FC United, welcomed the news.

He said: “We are pleased with the decision. We know from our consultation events that the ground proposal has wide support in the area and that some residents remain opposed.

“We are happy to sit down with those with concerns and explore ways in which they can be addressed.”

Annette McGovern, chair of opposition group Residents United Residents Association (RURA), said: “We have got a week to respond and we are taking advice on that.

“I am not saying that we will appeal and I am not saying that we won’t. “There are other options to explore and we will not lay down and die. It’s a collective decision and that is all I can say.”

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....closer-1690174

[SollyRed]

No further appeals to be allowed so should now be full steam ahead!

http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/m_story.php?story_id=4799

[heatonparkincakes]

So ok how long do they things take to build then?

Any sensible suggestions for the first opponents?

Will Jrb go, given it's just round the corner if we are to believe?

Will this persuade Swinton and Oldham RLFC to finally build their similar stadiums?

[redrog]

Originally Posted by heatonparkincakes

So ok how long do they things take to build then?

About 10 months IIRC