AMEC Developments is tipped to have won preferred-partner status for the £70m commercial element of Manchester’s Sports City stadium complex.
Officially, Manchester council is taking a report to the local committee next month, when a decision is to be finalised on the preferred developer for the 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) development.
However, David Deakin, senior surveyor at AMEC, denied that the decision had been made. “They haven’t selected a commercial element developer yet – it’s speculation and rumour,” he said. The council was unavailable for comment.
AMEC has had a close relationship with Manchester council since the early 1990s when the city made its unsuccessful bid to host the Olympic Games.
Deakin confirmed that AMEC has already invested time and money in the project. “We signed a legal document to take the original Olympic stadium scheme forward, but we lost preferred developer status when Manchester Council applied for funding from the Sports Council because the Sports Council did not then embrace a third party developer.”
Since then the local authority’s criterea has changed and on the back of that the council re-marketed the commercial element of the scheme to developers last year.
The development already has outline consent. AMEC’s proposals for the scheme include a major indoor water attraction and family entertainment centre, an interactive educational sports centre, bars and restaurants.
EGi News 28/01/00
