Plans have been revealed to transform the area around Salford Community Stadium into a new business hub, with proposals for 'high end industrial units' on a 5.4-acre site south of the ground.
Last year, Salford City Council completed a £7.7m buyout of the stadium and its surrounding land from former co-owners Peel, who previously held a 50% stake in the stadium company, CosCos.
The council's Conservative opposition criticised the buyout, suggesting it could cost the town hall "millions" in lost income and impact local taxpayers.
However, Salford city mayor Paul Dennett defended the decision, stating it was made with "head and heart ensuring a sound business decision" and expressing confidence in the council's ability to "unlock the full potential of the stadium and surrounding land."
The stadium is home to Salford Red Devils and Sale Sharks rugby clubs, and the council has long intended to develop the adjacent land, reports .
A planning application seeks permission to construct nine industrial units across two blocks, offering nearly 100,000 sq ft of internal floorspace, south of the stadium.
The development also includes plans for dedicated parking, with 94 car parking bays and 10 disabled spaces proposed.
The development will also include 28 electric vehicle charging stations and an additional 10 car sharing spaces distributed across the nine units.
The site's location provides easy access to the motorway network, with both the M60 and M62 nearby.
The planning application was lodged by Salford º£½ÇÊÓƵ ELP Ltd, The City of Salford Community Stadium Limited, and Port Salford Land Limited. A decision on the proposal is expected to be reached by June 18 this year.
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