Albert Gubay’s bid to halt plans for the redevelopment of Manchester’s Old Trafford cricket ground hit a stumbling block this week.
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has sent a letter to the owner of Old Trafford, Lancashire County Cricket Club, saying it has no involvement with Gubay’s Derwent Holdings.
Derwent, which is due in the Court of Appeal on Monday (4 July), has been campaigning against Trafford council’s decision to grant consent for the revamp of the ground, which includes a 100,000 sq ft Tesco, since March 2010. It claimed to have Sainsbury’s secured for a store at its nearby White City retail park.
However, Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King has this week sent an e-mail to LCCC member Geoff Shaffer. It read: “While it is true that Sainsbury’s did once explore the possibility of a store on this site, we are not involved with Derwent Holdings’ application.
“This is also true for the judicial challenge against Tesco’s proposed store in Trafford.”
Alan Burke, executive director at Ask, LCCC’s development partner, said: “This has often been portrayed as a battle between Tesco and Sainsbury’s and while it has been frustrating to see Mr Gubay’s actions given the credibility of the backing of Sainsbury’s, it is now clear that Sainsbury’s is not involved.”
Derwent could not be reached for comment.
daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com
