Plans in for housing at Belle Vue dogs

A joint planning application from housebuilder Countryside and asset manager SCP Investments has been lodged with Manchester City Council to build 247 homes at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Gorton.

The application for the 11.9-acre Kirkmanshulme Lane site outlines proposals for dwellings ranging from one to four bedrooms available for private rent, shared ownership and open market sale.

The site is still used for racing and is leased by the Greyhound Racing Association from owner Crown Oil Pension Fund – an entity that exists independently of Crown Oil, and is asset-managed by SCPI. The first purpose-built greyhound track in the country, it has operated since 1926 but with the sport in long-term decline has been reduced to one meeting with paying spectators per week, along with two morning meetings..

The end of racing at Belle Vue would be the latest in a series of closures around the country, with tracks sold for housing and other development including the high-profile Wimbledon track, which shut in March 2017. Locally, this year plans have been submitted at a former track in Westhoughton by Sparkle Developments.

Subject to planning, development of the Belle Vue site will include the demolition of existing buildings to make way for 167 two-storey houses and a range of 80 apartments across three and four-storey buildings.

John Grealis, regional operations director at Countryside, said: “Submission for planning for the new development at Kirkmanshulme Lane is a key milestone in Countryside and Sigma’s shared vision to create a brand new community in Gorton.

“Our ambition for the development of the Belle Vue site is to meet the local need for housing, doing so by creating high quality homes into which local families can grow and thrive with access to green space and a range of local amenities.

“Subject to planning, our new development in Gorton will see the exclusive launch of eight brand new house types, designed specifically in accordance with the National Described Space Standards to create homes that are light and spacious.”

Graeme Hogg, chief operating officer at PRS provider Sigma, which it is understood would develop the rented element of the project, added: “We are delighted to see this application being submitted after a positive and collaborative pre-application process. The mix of house types and tenures will provide customers with a choice not currently available in Gorton.”

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Woof, Woof , What a shame.

By Mick the Miller

Devastated, I loved going to Belle Vue dogs, a great night out.

By Sad

Are we moving to a point where we literally only have houses, office conversion to resi, leisure conversion to resi, retail conversion to resi. In the future will anyone ever leave their home to go anywhere?!

By MCRlyfe

Fabulous news! We need to end the continued animal cruelty of greyhound racing, and what better use than much needed housing.

By Bradford

Sorry to see the dogs go – hope Countyside haven’t got an option on the Speedway too ?!

By Tha' knows

Yes bet the greyhounds aren’t sorry! Poor animals.

By Russell Bolton

​Missed opportunity. That Belle Vue station is literally a 10 minute ride to Manchester Piccadilly. The station should be part of a high-frequency commuter train network like Berlin’s S-bahn. This would enable a much higher density of housing to be built here which could support additional retail and commercial uses. This is a generic low density housing estate that is far too inefficient in its use of land so close to the regional centre. ​

By Raj

Ditto with Patricroft Raj. Particularly when there was also a mill there, prime for developing into apartments. Not much foresight, or even thinking, when it comes to GM planning.

By Loganberry

Raj, I agree to an extent.. though there’s is a huge amount of apartments being built on the city fringe and there is a massive need for family housing. That said, some more ambitious foresight into how Manchester’s communities and infrastructure will work around here wouldn’t go a miss… Northern Gateway style urban masterplanning and investment is greatly needed. Gorton is only ever a place people drive through to get somewhere else. Never a destination… But it has a lot of potential.

By MancMan

Am I the only one who can see the large block of apartments in the north east of the site??

By Eagle Eye

This stadium as been going for years for greyhound raceing and stock cars so why do u have 2 demolish it for houses when its not called for it the only thing we have in manchester

By Richard bowers

Please keep me upto date with whats happening at belle vue stadium

By Richard bowers

Is belle vue closeing r not i think the public should no instead of holding things back will the stock cars still be racing at belle vue

By Tricky

WE HAVE PLENTY OD EMPTY HOUSES DOING NOTHING WITHOUT TAKING HISTORY AWAY
AND THE COMMENT CRULTY GET A LIFE
GREYHOUNDS ARE FOR RACING
THE WAY ITS GOING THERE WIL BE NO ENTERTAINMENT FOR ANYBODY WITH THESE GREEDY HOUSE BUILDERS AROUND

By Tony

Soon there will be loads of empty house that nobody can afford and you would have taken all our entertainment away

Well done you greedy people

By Tony

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