Belle Vue's historic greyhound stadium is set to be demolished after plans for nearly 250 new homes on the site were approved by councillors.

The future of the stadium, previously home to speedway team Belle Vue Aces and which still hosts greyhound and stock car racing, has been the subject of a bitter battle for over a year.

Plans to close the track on Kirkmanshulme Lane, which dates back to 1926, and which is the last of its kind in the north west, and replace it with 167 two, three and four-bedroom houses and 80 one and two bed apartments were first announced last year.

Since then fans of both greyhound and stock car racing have been campaigning to save it whilst animal welfare campaigners have swung their weight behind the housing plan.

An advertising van with displays denouncing dog racing was seen circling the area close to the town hall before the meeting got underway.

However, animal welfare considerations played no part in the decision, planning officials confirmed during the meeting, saying it was determined on planning grounds alone.

The plans include a mix of homes and apartments for private sale and private rent. 35 affordable homes, 14 percent of the the total, will also be delivered by housing group Great Places.

(Image: Countryside homes)

The scheme had been recommended for approval by officers as they had concluded "the loss of the facility is outweighed by the provision of a good quality residential development that provides a wide range of new accommodation for the residents of Manchester."

That view was shared by councillors on the 15 person planning committee who gave the plans the green light.

Councillor Gavin White said: "Whilst it is sad to lose a historic sporting venue, we do have a major housing crisis in the city and welcome the affordable housing provision within the scheme."

Coun Jon Connor-Lyons said: "I've always argued for mixed housing schemes, I think they are really important.

"I wish this scheme did have more than 14 percent affordable housing but this is significantly more than elsewhere in the city."

Responses in favour had been received from all over the world during the public consultation.

And there were cheers and applause from the public gallery in the town hall chamber as the plans were unanimously approved.

(Image: Countryside homes)

The site is owned by the Crown Oil pensions fund, whose leasing agreement with the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA's) is understood to have expired last year when the plans to replace the stadium with housing first emerged.

The lease is now owned by the Arena Racing Company (ARC).

The planning application was made by developer Countryside Properties.

Earlier Simon Walmsley, chairman of Friends of Belle Vue Stadium, a group who have been campaigning to save the facility, told the meeting: "We have all attended both sports [greyhound and stock car racing] over varying numbers of decades.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

"We are unashamed to say these are both working class sports.

"Manchester has a global reputation for being diverse and of rich heritage in culture, music and sport.

"This is not the first greyhound stadium in the country but the last in Manchester and indeed the north west.

"If this closes you take away two sports from the area for good and this surely goes against the rights of those two groups of working class supporters.

"You cannot simply shut down a sporting venue that has existed since 1926 and that is surrounded by leisure and sporting facilities - and replace it with housing. The two do not belong together."

He added the venue was still viable and bringing in "good revenues" and that it had hosted more sporting events than Manchester City and Manchester United this year.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

However Peter Tooher, from Nexus planning, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the benefit housing would bring "outweighed any issues or concerns."

He said: "Whilst the application has received a large number of comments we are not aware of overwhelming objections from local residents, and indeed some have written in support."

A section 106 legal agreement between the council and applicant will now have to be finalised before work can start.

Mr Tooher said Countryside were "very keen get started on the site" and begin building work "as soon as possible."

The Manchester Evening News asked Countryside after the meeting when racing would cease and building work would start, however they were unable to provide a timeline at this stage.

A spokeswoman said: “We are very pleased to have secured planning permission to create over 247 new homes on the site of the Belle Vue Greyhound Stadium, which brings to fruition a great deal of hard work by Countryside and SCP Investments to build our shared vision for the brand new community in Gorton.

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“Over the past few months we have been developing detailed designs for the new homes in accordance with the National Described Space Standards to create a range of new house designs that maximise natural light to enhance health and wellbeing.

"We look forward to commencing building work to deliver on our commitment to create high quality and affordable new homes that meet the local housing need."

A spokesman for the Arena Racing Company (ARC) said tonight: "We are aware of the decision by Manchester City Council this afternoon with regards to the Belle Vue Stadium.

"Our priority now will be to sit down with both the council and the developers Countryside Properties to find out what their immediate plans are for the site and what impact this will have on the racing operation."

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