Wakefield given green light to make redevelopments at Belle Vue
Wakefield will make redevelopments of their Belle Vue home after being granted a £3.15 million loan to buy back the freehold.
Trinity plan to revamp their home, now known as the Mobile Rocket Stadium, after proposals for a new stadium failed to materialise and a £12m refurbishment plan was unveiled in 2017.
The club received a boost on Wednesday when Wakefield Council agreed in principle to provide them with a loan of £3.15m to buy the stadium freehold and surrounding areas.
Wakefield chairman John Minards said: “We are grateful for the support of Wakefield Council, without whom this purchase would not be possible.
“While it is great news that we will be owners of our own ground, this is only very much the first stage of our redevelopment plans, and we continue to be in active discussions with a number of parties as we progress towards our ambitions for a world-class stadium fit for the 21stcentury.
The loan is seen as a step in the right direction for providing stability for the club.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, cabinet member at Wakefield Council, commented: “We have a proud history of rugby league in the Wakefield district and I’m pleased that this loan will help Wakefield Trinity secure the ownership of the stadium and provide a catalyst for development.
“We have been exploring the potential of redeveloping Belle Vue for some time and as I have said before, the Council is committed to working with the club to support the development of a community stadium.”