Rival development plans have been put forward for a huge rugby union stadium - one of which would mean 230,000 sq ft (21,365 sq m) of A1 non-food retail space - on a brownfield site in Greater Manchester.
The Salford City Reds club wants to build a 20,000-seat stadium at a 75 acre (30 ha) site close to Barton airfield, near the M60. The club's outline planning application also includes a casino and a 208-bedroom hotel.
However, Peel Holdings, owner of the nearby Trafford Centre, has now submitted a rival bid for a smaller 14,000-seat stadium at the site. The company has not included any retail element in its scheme.
Red City Developments managing director Adam Thomas, of the firm behind Salford City Reds plans, said it had already received enough interest to fill 300,000 sq ft (27,870 sq m) of retail space.
'Peel's (Holdings) application for a 14,000-seat stadium with no retail element would bankrupt the club. I think Peel are just not keen on having another retail element in the area,' he said.
Peel Holdings declined to comment.
No comments yet