Manchester City’s plans to expand the Etihad Stadium and create a new entertainment destination on site have officially been approved.
After the club submitted ambitious proposals to both increase its home ground’s capacity, and create a “best-in-class” fan experience by adding an all year-round entertainment and leisure destination on the current site, the new vision for the Etihad Stadium has officially been approved by Manchester City Council.
Approval follows the club’s fan and community consultation, which took place back in February and March this year, all before the full planning application was subsequently submitted in April.
Proposals were given approval by the Council’s planning committee yesterday (27 July).
We are delighted to confirm our planning application to develop an entertainment destination at the Etihad Stadium has been approved today.
But what exactly is in store for the Etihad Campus then? Well, according to Manchester City, the approved plans include several connected all-weather facilities that are fully integrated into the stadium – which will all be centred around an expanded North Stand, with one larger single upper tier above the existing lower tier that increases overall capacity to over 60,000.
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Above the upper tier, there will be a so-called ‘sky bar’ with views overlooking the pitch, as well as a stadium roof ‘walk experience’.
A covered ‘City Square’ fan zone with capacity for 3,000 people also form part of that plans.
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And then to round it all out, fans can also expect to make the most of a wide variety of new food and drink outlets, a new club shop, museum, workspace, and even a 400-bed hotel, which are all set to be constructed as part of the club’s development.
Plans approved for new ‘best-in-class’ entertainment destination at the Etihad Stadium / Credit: Manchester City
Manchester City’s Operations Director, Danny Wilson, says the club is “delighted” by the approval of the plans, adding that the development will “not only enable the club to enhance and expand its offering to fans and visitors on both matchday and non-matchday”, but will also “create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community”.
He added that the approval of the plans continues to “build on” the regeneration work that the City Football Group has delivered in East Manchester since 2008.
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According to the club, the main construction works are anticipated to begin on-site in November 2023.
This means the North Stand itself will be complete and open during the 2025/26 football season, but the hotel, workspace, and the rest of the ‘public realm’ works – including City Square – are more likely to be completed by late 2026.
Featured Image – Manchester City
News
Everyone in England can now get FREE careers advice as part of a new Government scheme
Emily Sergeant
People all across the country now have the ability to access support from dedicated career advisers completely free of charge.
That’s because, for the first time ever, the full range of support previously offered by the National Careers Service will be available through Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Government, creating a more joined-up service for people at every stage of their career.
Around 500 qualified careers advisers have joined the DWP, it has been confirmed, and they will provide expert careers information, advice, and guidance alongside the existing employment and skills support that are already available through Jobcentres.
But the key is here, the free careers support will be available to everyone – regardless of whether they claim benefits.
The services are set to be accessed either online, over the phone, or through face-to-face appointments at Jobcentres, giving people a single place to access the advice they need to take their next step.
As mentioned, these new services are part of the wider reforms the Government says it is taking to ‘give everyone the opportunity to succeed’.
These reforms include £2.5 billion of youth employment support, and £3.5 billion investment in employment support for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Support can be accessed online via the Get Careers Information and Advice page HERE, as well as through the freephone service on 0800 072 0288.
Face-to-face appointments will then be available in Jobcentres later this month.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
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Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Emily Sergeant -
28th July 2023 
