Former Trafford B&Q site earmarked for flats bought for cricket training facility
Manchester Super Giants, Lancashire County Cricket Club’s The Hundred franchise, has bought land next to Emirates Old Trafford that has permission for 228 apartments.
The franchise’s 70% shareholder – Indian conglomerate RPSG Group – and Lancashire Cricket Club, which owns the other 30%, plan to redevelop the 2.5-acre former B&Q site into a high-performance training facility for use by all of the clubs teams.
South African T20 side Durban Super Giants and IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, which RSPG Group also own, as well as touring international teams, would also use the facilities.
Manchester Super Giants, previously known as Manchester Originals, acquired the site from Blythe Ventures, an entity controlled by Andrew Bell, founder of investment platform AJ Bell.
Working with developer Brickland, Blythe Ventures had secured planning approval for the site’s redevelopment into a residential scheme. Lancashire County Cricket Club had been among the objectors to the proposals, claiming the scheme would have a negative impact on the operation of the cricket ground.
The club now has control of the site’s destiny. The planned training complex would be developed using proceeds generated by Manchester Super Giants, one of eight teams nationally that compete in The Hundred. It would feature upgrades to the existing indoor facility as we as , a gym, outdoor training areas, sports science and medical facilities.
The apartment scheme will not go ahead. Credit: via planning documents
The development forms part of the club’s ongoing strategy to enhance its facilities. Earlier this year, work completed on a £20m facility in Faringdon featuring two cricket ovals, training facilities, and a 1,100 sq ft pavilion for use by the Lancashire County Cricket Club’s various teams.
Dr Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RPSG Group, said: “Cricket is at the heart of RPSG Group’s sporting investments, and this partnership reflects our long-term commitment to the game.
“Lancashire Cricket shares our ambition to build facilities that give players every opportunity to succeed, and we are proud to be investing alongside them in a project that will benefit the club, the Super Giants family and the wider game for years to come. This is about leaving a lasting legacy for cricket in this region – a facility that will shape the development of players for generations to come.”
Dame Sarah Storey, chair of Lancashire Cricket, added: “This is an exciting milestone for Lancashire Cricket and one we have been working towards for a significant amount of time.
“Partnering with a cricketing organisation of RPSG’s exceptional calibre that shares our strategic vision allows us to immediately build on the joint venture with this new project together. I am also delighted we can directly reinvest a portion of the proceeds from The Hundred into the long-term sustainability and growth of our club.”
She added: “There is also a real sense of pride in bringing this land back into the Club’s ownership after it was sold in 1962 and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr Sanjiv Goenka and the RPSG team for their collaboration in delivering a facility that represents a standard of excellence for our players and our club.”
