Manchester City’s new entertainment venue approved by councillors

A meeting took place on June 11.

Councillors have unanimously approved plans for a 600-person capacity entertainment venue at the Etihad Campus.

The scheme by Manchester City won the backing of the council’s planning committee during a meeting on June 11.

Plans for the new venue were submitted earlier this year, and approval has opened the way for it to host a Manchester production of the interactive Mamma Mia! The Party experience.

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The venue will sit near Co-op Live and will form part of a £300m entertainment zone called Medlock Square based next to the Etihad Stadium.

Questions were asked during the council meeting on June 11 about the impact on the roads and local area when events are taking place at the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live, and new theatre venue at the same time.

It is thought that there will be around 15 arena and match days taking place over the year in total.

A council officer responded: “The reality is when you have a huge facility like this close to the city centre, the impetus will always be to ensure that as many people as possible get there by public transport or active forms of transport, that’s the objective of the strategy that we have for the campus.”

The approved scheme is set to be a major boost for Manchester, with planning reports stating: ‘The venue would contribute to Manchester’s reputation as a vibrant city, attracting visitors and supporting tourism.

‘It would be open throughout the year, creating around 150 jobs. 100 construction direct jobs would be created with a GVA [gross value added] of £18m. A local Labour agreement would prioritise local residents for jobs.’

The 3,000-capacity Medlock Square entertainment zone has been billed as a ‘year-round hub for culture, leisure and entertainment’, and is set to include bars, restaurants and cafés, a sky-walk, giving views over the Manchester skyline, a zip-wire and a three storey office block.

The club also recently opened its newly expanded north stand, which has increased the capacity of the Etihad Stadium to more than 60,000.