US stadium developer Oak View Group has secured consent to create a 23,500-capacity arena in East Manchester, a project worth £350m.
Contractor, Bam Construction, will start building the venue in November, but not without some dissent from competing developers, it has been reported.
According to property development news site, Place North West, Secretary of State Robert Jenrick has received an anonymous request to call in the application and subsequently it will not be formally approved until the request is considered.
Manchester City Council planning officer Dave Roscoe described the development, located next to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, as “game-changing”.
Various ward councillors are welcoming the investment as an opportunity to create “local jobs for local people”. Tim Leiweke, OVG’s chief executive, said the development would create 3,350 construction jobs and a further 1,000 jobs when it opens, it has been reported.
Close to £1bn in new developments have been announced for the Manchester area, which is becoming a hotbed residential, mixed use and commercial projects.
ASM Global, the operator of the rival and recently rebranded AO Arena in the city centre, has been an outspoken critic of the scheme, claiming Manchester cannot support two large arenas, reported PNW.
Approval of OVG’s proposals would put ASM’s own redevelopment plans, a £100m investment to upgrade the existing arena, in jeopardy, according to the ASM.