I've just returned from the meeting and can 100% confirm that a "minded to approve" decision was made.
The vote was passed unanimously but more than that a number of the planning committee made enthusiastic statements regarding their position of support for the whole development which includes the distribution centres and the economic benefits and jobs they offer.
Legislation demands that the plans now be passed to Government to consider whether they wish to call it in or pass it back with the latter being expected.
The developer has confirmed that they will build the stadium working to the time constraints set by the RFLs franchise proceedure meaning a targeted opening date of early 2012.
A certain part of the discussions centred on the assurances by the developer that the stadium be built first or at least in conjunction with the first commercial units. The developer confirmed that this would be the case as the funding for the stadium is intrinsically linked with the wider development.
There were assurances that the stadium is fully funded!
Three of the opposition speakers failed to attend and the three that did speak were poor. They had very flimsy grounds upon which they voiced their objections and were quickly undone by the simplelist of cross questions. The worst of the lot was the main protagonist who made numerous claims but a series of requests for evidence or the naming of where his official reports had come from revealed him to be a liar.
All of the speakers we put up were very good and between them they presented a very balanced case which included all aspects of the benefits this development would bring. Ranging from economic, jobs, better transport links to the area, regeneration of the East of the district, protection for the City's only premier sports club, the huge community benefits that the club provides etc etc.
Great day for the club
