Moston Community Stadium

Moston Community Stadium
Artists impression of proposed stadium
Location	Ronald Johnson Playing Fields, Moston, Manchester
Built	(Expected completion August 2012)
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	£3.5 million
Architect	Taylor Young [1]
Project Manager	Frank Whittle Partnerships [2]
Capacity	~5,000
Tenants
F.C. United of Manchester (proposed 2012– ) Moston Juniors F.C. (proposed 2012– )

The Moston Community Stadium is a proposed new stadium on Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston, Greater Manchester which is planned to be the new home of FC United of Manchester, a football team currently based in Gigg Lane, Bury, Greater Manchester, and Moston Juniors FC. Planning permission has been approved subject to some conditions and the club hopes to move into this stadium for the start of the 2012–13 season.

Background

FC United of Manchester

FC United were formed in 2005 by a group of Manchester United supporters following the club's controversial takeover by Malcolm Glazer which led to hundreds of supporters defecting from the club.^[1] Without a stadium of their own they agreed to use Bury's Gigg Lane stadium, but the agreement continues at the cost of a rent charge of approximately £5,000 per match.^[2] Within a year, the fan-owned club set aspirations to build its own 7,000 to 10,000 capacity stadium as close to Manchester City Centre as possible by 2012 and consequently entered into negotiations with New East Manchester and Manchester City Council to develop their plans.^[3] Despite attendances averaging over 2,000 in their first few seasons, the fact that the club only had access to a stadium of its own on its match days was a contributory factor in the club's financial loss for three years (£42,267 in 2007, £40,669 in 2008 and £9,663 in 2009).^[2][4]

Moston Juniors

Moston Juniors are a junior football club formed in 1993. The club has Active Sports and Charity Club status and was the first club in Manchester to receive FA Charter Standard Community Club status.^[5] The club signed the lease for Ronald Johnson Playing fields in 2007, with work to improve the site being completed in 2009 due to a £300,000 grant from Manchester City Council and the Football Foundation.^{[citation needed]} Moston Juniors are now entering a partnership with FC United and Manchester City Council so they can lease the new ground facilities.^[6]

First proposal

Artist's impression of original site at Ten Acres Lane

The site initially proposed for the stadium was Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath, Greater Manchester where FC United planned to build their ground on an existing leisure centre and Astroturf outdoor football pitch.^[7] The plans indicated that these community facilities would have been maintained within the new scheme. Newton Heath is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) east north east of Manchester city centre and has close links to Manchester United, who were formed in the urban area and were originally known as Newton Heath LYR Football Club between 1878 and 1902.^[8] The connection with Newton Heath may have been a contributory factor in its selection for the location of FC United's first stadium. An FC board member said, "You can't get away from the emotion of the location but this is as much about our future as the past and we are a club laying down our roots". ^[9]

On 4 March 2011 it was announced that Manchester City Council had backed out of plans to fund the new stadium with grants, despite the fact that the previously agreed £1.5 million was close to being raised by fans. ^[10]

Second proposal

After backing out of the Ten Acres Lane site, Manchester City Council stated that they were still committed to helping FC United build a ground in Manchester in time for the beginning of the 2012–13 season^[11] and on 5 April 2011 it was announced that, after considering three possible alternative sites, Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston, Greater Manchester was the preferred location for the stadium to be built according to Manchester City Council. ^[12] Moston Juniors, currently play on the site and it has been indicated that they will be accommodated into the new scheme. FC United general manager Andy Walsh has said that the original plans for the Moston scheme remain similar to the original Ten Acres Lane proposal with a total capacity of 5,000 expected.^[13]

Support and criticism

The proposal has not received the full support of local residents, with some residents organising protests against the use of the fields for construction of the stadium.^[14] Residents opposed to the stadium are concerned that it will lead to devaluation of their property and parking problems.^[15] There are also concerns about the loss of green space which was originally gifted to Moston in 1911.^[14][16]

There are also Moston residents who support the stadium proposals, believing the stadium will provide sports facilities and activities for local children and teenagers, improving the overall health of people the area.^[17]

By the end of the consultation process 5,635 letters of support and 2,226 letters of objection were received.^[18] - of these 7,653 (97.3%) were "standard letters" with supporters and objectors simply adding a signature. There were also 6 petitions with 854 names in support and 1,420 names in objection.^[18]

Planning stage

The Executive Committee of Manchester City Council approved the proposal to site the ground development subject to a planning application and consultation with residents, local community groups and Moston Juniors FC in April 2011.^[19] Detailed information about the new facility, including the tentative name Moston Community Stadium, was released on 9 June 2011.^[20] The planning application was submitted in July 2011. ^[21][22]

A decision by the planning officers from Manchester City Council regarding consent had to be moved from September 15 to October 27 due to the volume of interest in the application.^[23][24] The Head of Planning recommended that the Committee were "Minded to Approve" the planning application subject to a total of 42 attached conditions including the signing of an agreement for the site to have community use, an ongoing travel plan and off-site parking provision.^[18] At the planning meeting on 27 October, Manchester City Council approved the planning permission for the new stadium.^[25][26]

Current status

Planning permission was approved subject to the 42 conditions recommended by the Head of Planning - many of these conditions would be routinely applied to applications, such as the ground must be completed within three years (October 2014) and the building matching the submitted drawings. Other conditions include the recommendation that FC United not play any home games when Manchester City are also at home, or there being a major event at the City of Manchester Stadium due to the grounds being just over 3 miles apart and the possible impact on traffic and car parking availability within the area. ^[18] Floodlights on one of the community pitches must be switched off at 8pm, with the other pitches being allowed to operate until 9pm.^[18]

Local residents have said they may still fight on and have hired barristers to consider an appeal against the decision.^[26] One of the areas for appeal revolved around historic covenants on parts of the land, but the Charities Commission have ruled that the fields are not charitable land.^[27]

The club have not changed their target date for the opening of the new ground which has remained as August 2012 since the original planning application for the Ten Acres Lane site. However, a 13 week "cooling off period" applies meaning that no building work could take place before the end of January 2012.^[28] In an interview with FCUM Radio shortly after planning permission was approved, General Manager Andy Walsh said that contractor negotiations were almost complete and the cost of the scheme had now risen to somewhere between £4.5m and £5m. He also said that the club would be seeking assistance from volunteers to help with some minor aspects of the build. If planning objections do not delay the process, he anticipated that building may commence before the end of February or possibly the beginning of March 2012. One contractor tendering for the contract to build the ground still believes it possible to have it ready by August 2012.^[28]

Funding

If these obstacles are overcome, FC United would have to complete their fund raising before building could start. The development fund target was originally £500,000 with fans having raised £446,000 at the time of the planning decision - but £250,000 of this had been spent on that planning procedure.^[28][29] The overall cost of the Moston scheme is higher than originally planned at Ten Acres Lane and the development fund target is now £600,000.^[28][30] A community share scheme target is now also £100,000 higher at £1.6m - with £1.3m raised before the scheme was put on hold following the uncertainty of the original proposal.^[28][31] The club had applied for grants in the region of £1.5m, with £650,000 originally agreed by the City Council, plus a further £850,000 coming from the Football Foundation, Sport England & other grant bodies.^[32]

The current funding package is in place to raise the £4.5m required:- ^[33]

• £1,600,000 FC United Community Shares scheme (£1.28m committed in previous scheme, deadline December 2011)
• £300,000 Development Fund (over £400,000 raised, but £250,000+ spent on fees - a further £100,000 to £150,000 to raise)
• £550,000 Manchester City Council (£750,000 allocated to project; awaiting Executive sign off pending planning decision. £200,000 contributed to fees. Decision November/December 2011)
• £750,000 Sport England (Iconic facilities fund, stage one approval given. Funding approval December 2011)
• £150,000 Football Foundation Stadia Improvement Fund (Decision March 2012)
• £500,000 Football Foundation Community Facilities Fund (Decision March 2012)
• £300,000 Confidential identified funder (decision expected November 2011)
• £400,000 various other sources pending

External links

• FC United Stadium Planning Application
• Moston Community Stadium facility – leaflet
• FC United Options Review
• Moston Juniors Original Plans 1
• Moston Juniors Original Plans 2
• Community shares scheme

References

1. ^ FC United history
2. ^ ^{a b} "FCUM Business Plan Summary 2010". March 2010. http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/commshares/FCUM%20Business%20Plan%20Summary%202010.pdf. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
3. ^ FC reveals location of proposed stadium FC United Official site
4. ^ Rebels Close to Home of their Own Manchester Evening News
5. ^ Moston Juniors FC History Moston Juniors FC
6. ^ Moston Community Stadium leaflet
7. ^ BBC - FC United's stadium plans in Newton Heath passed
8. ^ Manchester United history 1900–09
9. ^ FC United plan Newton Heath move the independent
10. ^ Ten Acres Lane Council Statement & Update - FC United Official Website
11. ^ Manchester City Council pull funding FC United Official Website
12. ^ "FC United Options Review". Manchester City Council. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/1A_-_FC_United.pdf. 
13. ^ "Home Win - FC United to build 5,000 capacity stadium in Moston". Manchester Evening News. http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1417252_home-win-fc-united-to-build-5000-capacity-stadium-in-moston. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Offside!: Moston residents in bid to block FC United stadium bid Manchester Evening News – 19 April 2011
15. ^ War of words as Moston split by FC United stadium bid Manchester Evening News – 23 July 2011
16. ^ Gift kicked off 101 years of sport in community Manchester Evening News – 19 April 2011
17. ^ Moston neighbours who back FC United stadium plan say it will be 'fantastic' for area Manchester Evening News – 24 June 2011
18. ^ ^{a b c d e} Manchester City Council Report for Resolution
19. ^ Ground Update - 6 April 2011 fc-utd.co.uk official site
20. ^ Moston Community Stadium Facility - FCUM Official Website
21. ^ "Home Win - FC United to build 5,000 capacity stadium in Moston". Manchester Evening News.
22. ^ FC United Stadium Planning Application
23. ^ Decision day on £3.5m stadium for FC United in Moston set for September 15 Manchester Evening News Online
24. ^ Moston Planning Application fc-utd.co.uk official site
25. ^ Planning permission approved – FC United official website Accessed 27 October 2011
26. ^ ^{a b} Fight to Extra Time Say Objectors Manchester Evening News
27. ^ Opponents to Stadium Suffer Setback in Charitable Land Ruling Manchester Evening News
28. ^ ^{a b c d e} This Club Is My Club podcast 31/10/2011 iTunes
29. ^ FC United development fund
30. ^ Development Fund Meeting FC Utd official site
31. ^ FC United positive about stadium plans Place North West
32. ^ Report for Resolution Manchester City Council
33. ^ FC United Business plan FC United official site

Coordinates: 53°31′00″N 2°10′49″W / 53.5167°N -2.1804°E / 53.5167; -2.1804