Oak View Group’s plans for Co-op Live, the 23,500-capacity arena in Manchester, have concluded the final step in the planning process following the signing of the planning agreement with Manchester City Council this week.
The project has passed an important milestone to getting construction underway as quickly as possible.
As part of planning conditions with the Council, OVG has committed to:
- Donate £100,000 per year to local organisations once the venue is operational. This is in addition to the £1m per year to be generated by the arena for distribution via the Co-operative Foundation to community groups locally and nationally as a result of the OVG & Co-op partnership.
- Prioritise local labour during the construction and operational phases of the development.
- Work with the council and local community to develop and fund the expansion of the Residential Parking Zone around the site.
- Work with the local community to provide opportunities to use the venue for agreed community activities.
- Deliver a number of improvements to walking and cycling routes to the Campus, including along the Ashton Canal Towpath.
Manchester’s green light for the venue, combined with the UK Government’s decision that it does not need to review the local planning decision, means that OVG can start to create over 3,000 jobs during the three-year construction phase.
The construction of Co-op Live will bring a huge boost to Greater Manchester’s economy during an immensely challenging period.
Alongside direct jobs, the construction of the arena would help support a further 6,500 jobs across 800 companies in the construction sector.
OVG’s contractors are due to start early site preparation works as early as next month and plan to be fully engaged from January 2020.
The arena is set to open in 2023, bringing a further 1,000 jobs during operation to East Manchester.
“We are delighted that following September’s planning committee we have been able to conclude our agreement with the Council so quickly,” said Mark Donnelly, OVG chief operating officer.
“Our legal commitments codify our vision of being a key part of the local community and that will include donations to local good causes, making the venue available for community events, and prioritising local hiring.
"We have also listened carefully to local residents during the planning process and know that expanding the Residents Parking Zone is a very important issue for those who live locally.”
The arena, which will be called Co-op Live following a 15-year agreement between developers OVG and Manchester-based retailer Co-op, will be situated on a site at the Etihad Campus.
The partnership with Co-op will see a guaranteed minimum of £1million in donations to good causes locally and nationally from the arena each year. This is a world-leading arrangement and means that the visitors to, and commercial partners of, Co-op Live will have a direct benefit on local causes and organisations.
Cllr John Flanagan, ward councillor for Miles Platting and Newton Heath, said: “OVG’s plans to bring Co-op Live to Manchester is a massive vote of confidence our city needs right now, with the jobs and economic investment a significant boost to Manchester’s COVID recovery plans.
“From the very beginning, OVG took time to understand the local community, our residents and the needs of the city. They have responded by making the arena part of a regeneration journey that unlocks new opportunity for East Manchester and the broader city, from the get-go.
“I’m pleased to see that all jobs at Co-op Live will be paid the Living Wage”.
The £350million privately funded arena will rival the world’s best venues including London’s O2 Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The venue has the potential to bring significantly more events to Manchester, and to be one of the world’s busiest arenas.
Find out more
To find out more about Co-op Live, Oak View Group, and these exciting plans for Manchester visit the Co-op Live website at www.cooplive.com.
