FC United to build £3.5m new stadium

Source: Manchester Evening News

March 25, 2010
FC United are hoping to build their new £3.5m stadium in Newton Heath, the birthplace of Manchester United.

The semi-professional club, born out of the anti-Glazer movement at United five years ago, has been given the amber light by Manchester City Council to press ahead with their new home.

They hope to have moved in to their new base by 2013 but the timescale depends on the length of the planning and building process.

FC United hope to build the community stadium, with a capacity of 5,000, on council land off Ten Acres Lane, and the design is expected to include a renovation of an existing sports centre and artificial football pitches.

It is also hoped to include community facilities which will be in use seven days a week but the nature of those facilities would only be determined after the club talks to residents. The stadium would incorporate facilities aimed at encouraging local youngsters to take part in sports, and could offer educational, social and even health services.

The club was today starting consultation with residents and the outline plans will go before the council next month.

Depending on the length of the planning process, FC hope to move into their new home in 2012 or 2013. The club has been sharing Bury's Gigg Lane ground for the first five seasons of their existence but the £3,000-a-match rental has drained their resources and the search for their own stadium has been underway since its formation in the summer of 2005.

The plan is intended to form part of the regeneration of east Manchester, which also includes the proposed £1billion redevelopment of Manchester City's stadium and surrounds at Eastlands.