It’s all gone to dogs for Belle Vue campaigners
HISTORIC GREYHOUND STADIUM FACING THE BULLDOZERS AS TOWN HALL BOSSES AGREE PLAN TO BUILD 250 HOMES ON THE SITE
BELLE Vue’s historic greyhound stadium is set to be demolished after plans for nearly 250 new homes on the site were approved by councillors.
The future of the stadium, previously home to speedway team Belle Vue Aces and which now also hosts stock car racing, has been the subject of a bitter battle for over a year.
Plans to close the track on Kirkmanshulme Lane - which dates back to 1926 and which is the last of its kind in the north west - and replace it with 167 two, three and four-bedroom houses and 80 one and two bed apartments, were first announced last year.
The plans include a mix of homes and apartments for private sale and private rent.
Thirty five affordable homes, 14 per cent of the total, will also be delivered by housing group Great Places.
Coun Gavin White said:
“Whilst it is sad to lose a historic sporting venue, we do have a major housing crisis in the city and welcome the affordable housing provision within the scheme.”
The site is owned by the
Crown Oil pensions fund, whose leasing agreement with the Greyhound Racing Association is understood to have expired last year when the plans to replace the stadium with housing first emerged.
The lease is now owned by the Arena Racing Company. Simon Walmsley, chairman of Friends of Belle Vue Stadium, said before the decision: “If this closes you take away two sports from the area for good.
“You cannot simply shut down a sporting venue that has existed since 1926 and that is surrounded by leisure and sporting facilities - and replace it with housing.
“The two do not belong together.”
He added the venue was still viable and bringing in ‘good revenues’ and that it had hosted more sporting events than Manchester City and Manchester United this year.