A planning application for the construction of a community stadium at Newmarket, where the rugby league team was due to be major a tenant, has been referred by the Government to the UK Secretary of State, which at best will cause a lengthy delay.
Wakefield is one of three clubs – alongside the Salford City Reds and the Castleford Tigers – whose bid for a renewal of a Super League licence hinges on an ability to move into a new stadium by 2012. In July it will be decided which Championship club will be granted a Super League licence, and which Super League team will make way as a result.
“With Super League licensing looking closely at facilities, this delay is a huge blow,” admitted Wakefield CEO James Elston. “Rugby league has been synonymous with the City of Wakefield for 137 years and this delay could put that in jeopardy."
He added: “We now need to conduct further meetings with the developer, the Community Trust and with other stakeholders to review the contingency plans that were put in place in the event of such a delay in planning.”
Wakefield Council has given its outline planning consent, but the development is also on land owned by Leeds City Council, which has received a number of objections from local residents.
