Broadhurst Park

Broadhurst Park

Artist's impression of proposed stadium
Location Lightbowne Road,
Moston, Manchester
Owner FC United of Manchester
Operator FC United of Manchester
Capacity approx 5,000
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 17 November 2013
Built November 2013 – present
Construction cost £5.5 million
Architect Taylor Young
Builder Thomas Barnes
Project manager Frank Whittle Partnerships
Structural engineer Scott Hughes Design
Tenants
F.C. United of Manchester (2015– )
Moston Juniors F.C. (2015– )

Broadhurst Park is a football stadium currently under construction on Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston, Manchester, England.[1]

When completed, it will become the new home of F.C. United of Manchester and Moston Juniors F.C..[2]

The stadium was known by its project name, Moston Community Stadium, before being changed at a members' meeting in 2014.

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.[3] Without a stadium of their own they agreed to use Bury's Gigg Lane stadium, but the agreement continues at the cost of approximately £5,000 per match.[4] 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.[5] 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).[4][6]

Moston Juniors

Moston Juniors 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.[7] 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. The club had further plans with the help of a proposed £750,000 council grant to build a clubhouse and upgrade their pitches, however they were unable to secure sufficient additional funding to make the project happen. Moston Juniors are now entering a partnership with FC United and Manchester City Council so they can lease the new ground facilities.[8]

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 where FC United planned to build their ground on an existing leisure centre and Astroturf outdoor football pitch.[9] 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.[10] 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".[11]

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.[12]

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[13] and on 5 April 2011 it was announced that, after considering three possible alternative sites, Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston was the preferred location for the stadium to be built according to Manchester City Council.[14]

The playing fields in Moston were purchased on behalf of the workers of Johnson's family metal working and fabrication business (Johnson, Clapham and Morris). Ronald Lindsay Johnson (24 September 1889 to 29 May 1917) was serving as an Acting Captain and Divisional Trench Mortar Officer but was mortally wounded by a German shell whilst travelling from Zillebeke Lake.[15] He was the youngest son and sixth child of William Henry and Agnes Morton Johnson (née Brown) of Dunham Massey. He graduated from King's College, Cambridge with a BA in 1911. He joined the family business, working at the Australian branch in Sydney but returned to the UK to enlist after World War I broke out.

He was promoted to lieutenant in early 1916 but was wounded by a rifle bullet near Martinpuich later that year during the Battle of the Somme. After short recuperation back at Endlsleigh Palace Hospital, Caxton Hall and 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester he returned to duty just before Christmas 1916.[15] As DTMO for the 23rd Division, Johnson was responsible for co-ordinating the targeting and positioning of mortar batteries and it was during preparation for the Battle of Messines when he was mortally wounded on 29 May 1917. His grave is at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium (Plot II, Row D, Grave 1). He had ascended to chairman of his family business following the deaths of his father in February 1914 and his brother William in July 1916 and his will (compiled before Christmas 1916) originally left his shares in the family business in trust for the benefit of the employees of the firm; but when this bequest was deemed to be impractical, the trustees decided instead that eight acres of land should be purchased for the staff and the playing fields and recreation ground were opened in the presence of his mother on 17 June 1925.[15]

In April 1934, following the relocation of the Richard Johnson, Clapham and Morris Ltd firm to Trafford Park, the playing grounds were offered to the Parks Committee of the Manchester Corporation for £2,400.. At the time, the ground was described as being fenced all round with iron railings, containing bowling greens, a number of tennis courts and a cricket pitch, together with two well-built pavilions.

For many years the land was used for community events including football and funfairs. A cycle speedway track was built during the 1980s.[16] In 2005, a 2.4 m green powder coated weld mesh fence with gates was erected at the perimeter of the fields.[17] Around the same time, Moston Juniors became a registered charity in order to secure funding for the development of the site and they secured a lease in 2007.[18]

Moston Juniors still play on the site and will be accommodated into the new scheme. FC United general manager Andy Walsh has said that the original plans for the Moston scheme remained similar to the original Ten Acres Lane proposal with a total capacity of 5,000 expected.[19]

The proposal has not received the full support of local residents, with some organising protests against the use of the fields for the stadium.[20] Residents opposed to the stadium are concerned that it will lead to parking problems and devaluation of their property.[21] There are also concerns about the loss of green space.[20][22]

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.[23]

By the end of the consultation process 5,635 letters of support and 2,226 letters of objection were received.[24] – 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.[24]

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.[25] Detailed information about the new facility, including the tentative name Moston Community Stadium, was released on 9 June 2011.[26] The planning application was submitted in July 2011.[27][28]

A decision by the planning officers from Manchester City Council regarding consent had to be moved from 15 September to 27 October due to the volume of interest in the application.[29][30] 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.[24] At the planning meeting on 27 October, Manchester City Council approved the planning permission for the new stadium.[31][32]

Current status and construction

The spade-in-the-ground ceremony at Ronald Johnson Playing Fields, marking the official start of construction

The club signed a Section 106 and lease agreement in July 2012 which activated the planning permission which had been granted subject to the 42 conditions recommended by the Head of Planning back in October 2011.[33] Many of these conditions would be routinely applied to applications, such as the ground must be completed within three years (July 2015) 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.[24] Floodlights on one of the community pitches must be switched off at 8pm, with the other pitches being allowed to operate until 9pm.[24]

The club's original target was to open the Ten Acres Lane site in August 2012. However, several delays ensued including the change of site to Moston and a 13-week "cooling off period" after the successful application.[34] The FC United board initially identified a tentative start date of May 2012,[35] but a legal challenge to the council's decision delayed this for nearly 18 months until work finally began in November 2013.[36]

Construction began in November 2013 and was scheduled to be completed by September 2014.[37] The completion target was to be 40 weeks after building has commenced.[37][38][39] The club hoped to kick off the 2014–15 season in their own ground. However, some difficulties with the pitch and the liquidation of the engineering firm contracted to build the St Mary's Road End of the ground, has led to delays. The current estimated handover date is May 2015.

Ground naming

Broadhurst Park under construction in February 2014

The Moston Community Stadium was the project name for the ground announced in the summer of 2011.[40] However, the ground name was chosen by the members, known as "co-owners" at its Annual General Meeting on 10 April 2014.[41][42] The members were able to propose suggestions and these were reduced to a shortlist of seven.

The name was announced as "Broadhurst Park" on 11 April 2014[43] Land in Moston was donated to Manchester Corporation in 1920 by cotton manufacturer Sir Edward Tootal Broadhurst, 1st Baronet, as a recognition of victory in the First World War.[44]

Judicial Review

After the planning approval was granted, local residents hired barristers to consider an appeal against the decision.[32] The activation of the planning permission allowed solicitors on behalf of a group called Residents United Residents Association (RURA) to launch its Judicial Review Pre-Action Protocol, which challenged the council's decision making process.[45] One of the original areas for appeal revolved around historic covenants on parts of the land, but the Charities Commission ruled that the fields are not charitable land.[46]

The residents gained legal aid to launch the judicial review and argued that there were flaws in the planning process. The review took place on 18–19 December 2012 in Manchester to decide whether the council's planning process was legal.[47] The judge reserved his decision for a month,[48] but decided to reject RURA's claim to quash the planning permission.[49] The final legal action from RURA came to an end after an unsuccessful challenge was made to the Court of Appeal in March 2013.[50]

Funding

With the judicial review over and the lease signed, FC United have to complete their fund raising during the build. 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.[34][51] 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.[34][52] 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.[34][53] 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.[54]

The current funding package is in place to raise the £5.5m required:- [55]

References

  1. ↑ "Building work finally begins on FC United's new stadium". Manchester Evening News. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  2. ↑ Moston Juniors FC
  3. ↑ FC United history
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "FCUM Business Plan Summary 2010" (PDF). March 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ↑ FC reveals location of proposed stadium FC United Official site
  6. ↑ Brennan, Stuart (30 October 2007). "Rebels close to home of their own". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  7. ↑ Moston Juniors FC History Moston Juniors FC
  8. ↑ Moston Community Stadium leaflet
  9. ↑ "FC United's stadium plans in Newton Heath passed". BBC News. 25 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Manchester United history 1900–09
  11. ↑ Scott-Elliot, Robin (26 March 2010). "FC United plan Newton Heath move". The Independent (London).
  12. ↑ Ten Acres Lane Council Statement & Update – FC United Official Website
  13. ↑ Manchester City Council pull funding FC United Official Website
  14. ↑ "FC United Options Review" (PDF). Manchester City Council.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 O'Mara, Dave (26 December 2011) [2011]. Howard, Tony, ed. FC United of Manchester Official Matchday programme 7 (15 ed.). United Kingdom. pp. 10–13.
  16. ↑ Friend of Ronald Johnson
  17. ↑ Ronald Johnson Playing Fields (see page 5, planning history) Manchester City Council]
  18. ↑ Moston Juniors Club History
  19. ↑ Keegan, Mike (5 April 2011). "Home win: FC United to build 5,000 capacity stadium in Moston". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Keegan, Mike (19 April 2011). "Offside!: Moston residents in bid to block FC United stadium bid". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  21. ↑ "War of words as Moston split by FC United stadium bid". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media). 23 July 2011.
  22. ↑ Keegan, Mike (19 April 2011). "Gift kicked off 101 years of sport in community". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  23. ↑ Keegan, Mike (24 June 2011). "Moston neighbours who back FC United stadium plan say it will be 'fantastic' for area". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 "Manchester City Council Report for Resolution" (PDF). Manchester City Council. 27 October 2011.
  25. ↑ Ground Update – 6 April 2011 fc-utd.co.uk official site
  26. ↑ Moston Community Stadium Facility – FCUM Official Website
  27. ↑ Keegan, Mike (5 April 2011). "Home win: FC United to build 5,000 capacity stadium in Moston". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  28. ↑ FC United Stadium Planning Application
  29. ↑ Keegan, Mike (29 July 2011). "Decision day on £3.5m stadium for FC United in Moston set for September 15". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  30. ↑ Moston Planning Application fc-utd.co.uk official site
  31. ↑ Planning permission approved – FC United official website Accessed 27 October 2011
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Welsh, Pamela (28 October 2011). "Video: We’ll take fight to extra time say objectors as FC United stadium in Moston gets go-ahead". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  33. ↑ Moston Update – Section 106 and lease agreements signed fc-utd.co.uk official site
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 This Club Is My Club podcast 31 October 2011 iTunes
  35. ↑ Moston – potential legal challenge www.fc-utd.co.uk
  36. ↑ Building work finally begins on FC United's new stadium www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "FC United of Manchester – Let the build begin". Fc-utd.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  38. ↑ FC United Board Report
  39. ↑ Scaling new heights FCUM Blog posted by Andy Walsh
  40. ↑ Moston Community Stadium fc-utd.co.uk
  41. ↑ Ground name to be chosen by fans fc-utd.co.uk
  42. ↑ General Meeting 2014 fc-utd.co.uk
  43. ↑ "FC United members choose Broadhurst Park as name for new ground". Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  44. ↑ Broadhurst Clough – The Journey so Far, Manchester City Council
  45. ↑ Judicial Review fc-utd.co.uk official site
  46. ↑ Welsh, Pamela (1 November 2011). "Opponents to FC United stadium in Moston suffer setback in 'charitable land' ruling". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
  47. ↑ Exclusive by Mike Keegan (2012-11-28). "High Court judge to rule whether FC United stadium can be built in Moston | Manchester Evening News". menmedia.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  48. ↑ "Judicial Review – an update | FC United Official Site". fc-utd.co.uk. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  49. ↑ FC United website (2013-01-25). "Stadium update – Judicial Review Ruling". fc-utd.co.uk. Retrieved 013–01–26. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  50. ↑ "Challenge on FC United's Moston Community Stadium rejected". Manchester Evening News. 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  51. ↑ FC United development fund
  52. ↑ Development Fund Meeting FC Utd official site
  53. ↑ FC United positive about stadium plans Place North West
  54. ↑ Report for Resolution Manchester City Council
  55. ↑ FC United Business plan FC United official site
  56. ↑ FC United hits community share target F.C. United official website. Accessed 16 March 2012
  57. ↑ FC United development fund page F.C. United official website. Accessed 24 March 2012
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Council Executive approves extra funding for Moston site F.C. United official website. Accessed 24 March 2012
  59. ↑ Council Executive approves extra funding for Moston site F.C. United "Pink Edition". Accessed 24 March 2012
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Let the build begin F.C. United official website. Accessed 12 November 2013
  61. ↑ FC United net £300k grant towards new stadium in Moston Manchester Evening News
  62. ↑ Successful funding bid for Moston project fc-utd.co.uk

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Broadhurst Park.

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