from the Manchester Evening News
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:58 pmCITY RUINING FOOTBALL !!!!!!!!
Manchester City's multi-million investment in East Manchester has been hailed as the 'biggest outside the World Cup and Olympics'.
Senior councillors have rubber-stamped a masterplan, with the football club at its heart, to transform Eastlands into a global sporting destination.
The scheme has been tipped to attract £1bn of investment in new sport and leisure facilities in one of England's most deprived districts.
The M.E.N revealed earlier this month how a deal has been struck to bring world-class facilities to the area. These include community football pitches on land in Openshaw West, owned by City's Abu Dhabi owners, alongside a training complex for the club's professional players.
A bridge would connect the site to the City of Manchester Stadium. A proposed entertainment and leisure complex would also occupy the site of the scrapped supercasino, potentially creating thousands of jobs.
Town hall bosses yesterday backed the proposed business partnership with the Blues to deliver the 15-year masterplan.
Jim Battle, deputy council leader, said the investment would produce 'stars of the future'.
He added: "This is probably the biggest sporting investment outside the World Cup or Olympics. It is a significant investment in out city and builds upon the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
“There is serious ambition in the area around this project."
Eddie Smith, from the New East Manchester agency, who will head up the new partnership, told councillors: "This is testament to the very significant partnership we've developed with the football club in the last 12 months and testament to the club's commitment to working with us for the benefit of East Manchester."
He added: "There are high expectations that over the 10 - 15 year period we will see a significant number of jobs as a result of investment by the football club. We have to create the necessary framework to unlock that."
The proposals also include plans for a cluster of new sporting facilities at Grey Mare Lane, including a new swimming pool, and improved speedway facilities at Belle Vue.
Council chiefs say they intend to use coaching and events to transform the lives of local children.
Manchester City's multi-million investment in East Manchester has been hailed as the 'biggest outside the World Cup and Olympics'.
Senior councillors have rubber-stamped a masterplan, with the football club at its heart, to transform Eastlands into a global sporting destination.
The scheme has been tipped to attract £1bn of investment in new sport and leisure facilities in one of England's most deprived districts.
The M.E.N revealed earlier this month how a deal has been struck to bring world-class facilities to the area. These include community football pitches on land in Openshaw West, owned by City's Abu Dhabi owners, alongside a training complex for the club's professional players.
A bridge would connect the site to the City of Manchester Stadium. A proposed entertainment and leisure complex would also occupy the site of the scrapped supercasino, potentially creating thousands of jobs.
Town hall bosses yesterday backed the proposed business partnership with the Blues to deliver the 15-year masterplan.
Jim Battle, deputy council leader, said the investment would produce 'stars of the future'.
He added: "This is probably the biggest sporting investment outside the World Cup or Olympics. It is a significant investment in out city and builds upon the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
“There is serious ambition in the area around this project."
Eddie Smith, from the New East Manchester agency, who will head up the new partnership, told councillors: "This is testament to the very significant partnership we've developed with the football club in the last 12 months and testament to the club's commitment to working with us for the benefit of East Manchester."
He added: "There are high expectations that over the 10 - 15 year period we will see a significant number of jobs as a result of investment by the football club. We have to create the necessary framework to unlock that."
The proposals also include plans for a cluster of new sporting facilities at Grey Mare Lane, including a new swimming pool, and improved speedway facilities at Belle Vue.
Council chiefs say they intend to use coaching and events to transform the lives of local children.