Plans drawn up for 3,000 capacity ice rink arena

The TraffordCity Arena development would host sports and a range of other events

Plans have been submitted for a new 3,000-capacity ice rink and sports arena in Greater Manchester.

The TraffordCity Arena development has been proposed for a site near the Chill Factore indoor ski centre and the Trafford Centre.

As well as hosting a range of sport the arena will also convert into an event space that will host virtual reality immersive experiences, small concerts, screenings and live entertainment.

If approved, the land would be acquired from regeneration specialists Peel Waters and operated by the Planet Ice group, which operates 14 other similar venues across the UK.

The company's managing director James Whittaker said it would be a "huge leisure and retail destination".

"There is no other destination in the country that brings together everything that's available here in one place," he said.

"There's a lot of other things this arena cold be used for whether that be music events or boxing."

Peel Waters said if planning permission was granted construction would be predicted to take between 12 and 15 months.

The purpose-built facility could also provide a further boost for the Manchester Storm ice hockey team, which has confirmed it in negotiations to play at the new facility.

The new area would able to accommodate an additional 1,000 fans and spectators in comparison with their current site in Altrincham.