St Helens have been given planning permission for their new stadium without the need for a public inquiry. The decision by the Government Office for the North West should speed up the process of building the new venue, which should open during 2011. "This is excellent news for the club and its fans," said club chairman Eamonn McManus. "We are now looking at an identifiable timeframe and have avoided the onerous costs of a central government call-in."  | 606: DEBATE |
Site clearance at the derelict former United Glass site should begin in mid-2009, with the target completion date for the new 18,000-capacity stadium being February 2011. St Helens have been at their current Knowsley Road home for 116 years. That site will be turned into a housing development. "This is another important hurdle out of the way and we look forward to the work and challenges ahead," said McManus. "The future of the club and of the town is looking very healthy indeed."
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