Lancashire CCC Old Trafford upgrade fight date set

The club plans to build two new stands

A High Court challenge to Lancashire County Cricket Club's upgrade to its ground ahead of the 2013 Ashes series is to be heard on 28 February.

Property company Derwent Holdings Ltd, owners of nearby White City retail park, wants a judicial review of planning permission given to the club.

Lancashire's £32m redevelopment plans, include a new pavilion, new pitches and two new grandstands.

The High Court action will be heard in Manchester.

The club said it could lose £5m funding from the North West Regional Development Agency, if the legal action was not cleared by April 2011.

"This will be a make or break decision," said Jim Cumbes, Lancashire CCC's chief executive.

Delay claims

"The stakes could not be higher. The club has spent £1.5m on costs associated with planning... There has also been a £2m reduction in grants as a result of not being able to start the development programme as planned," he said.

Derwent Holdings, challenged the original planning permission after Trafford Council rejected Derwent's application for a smaller Sainsbury's store at White City on the grounds that it would impact on trade.

However, Derwent have argued that the council gave permission close by for a Tesco's store, a development which is part of the Lancashire CCC plans.

The plans were called in by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles for review, who sent them back to Trafford Council which approved the proposals in September.

Derwent Holdings Ltd is one of several companies set up by the Kwik Save founder Albert Gubay.