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Rugby League

Saints granted permission for new stadium

11/07/2008

St Helens rugby league club have been granted permission for a new 18,000 capacity stadium to replace their historic Knowsley Road ground.

The new £25 million development will see Saints move away from their current home, where the club has played for the last 116 years.

However, the news has been greeted positively by most people as the new ground is expected to bring "massive regeneration" to the area.

The plan will see a Tesco Extra store constructed at the site of the new stadium, which will be at the derelict 46-acre site of a former glass factory, while Taylor Wimpey will redevelop the Knowsley Road site to provide new housing.

In approving the plans, the local government have decided not to send the scheme to public enquiry, which will save time and costs and means the new stadium could be open within two-and-a-half years.

Saints chairman Eamonn McManus said: "This is excellent news for the club and its supporters.

"We are now looking at an identifiable timeframe and have avoided the onerous costs of a central government call in.

"This is another important hurdle out of the way and we look forward to the work and challenges ahead.

"In particular, I would like to thank the fans for their magnificent support for the project. The future of the club and of the town is looking very healthy indeed."