Controversial plans to build a massive new stadium and sports village in Trafford for rugby side Sale Sharks have been dropped after the council said it would not support them following a public outcry.

Proposals for the ground inclued investment of around £100m.

The premiership team would have moved to Crossford Bridge playing fields. 

The union side played at Heywood Road in Sale between 1905 and 2003, before moving to Edgeley Park, home of Stockport County.

From 2012, the Sharks have played at Salford’s AJ Bell stadium. Rugby League side Salford Red Devils also play there.

The move to the Crossford Bridge side would have seen the team return to its home town after nearly two decades. The club still wants that to happen. 

Town hall bosses have now said they will not support the plans following a public consultation.

It comes after scores of people raised concerns – including the loss of green space, extra traffic, noise and potential pollution. Thousands of people urged bosses to find another site.

Members of grassroots sports clubs which also use the site – including athletics club Sale Harriers, Sale United Football Club and Old Altrinchamians football club – said they were concenred for their futures.  

It is understood those three clubs were in talks with developers Crossford Futures about the plans and that extensive work had been done in the recent weeks to draw up plans for better training facilities for members – alongside the new stadium.

Developers had planned another round of consultation with the public, during which bosses said they would show people they had responded to feedback and tweaked the plans.

Proposals for ‘Crossford Bridge Community Sports Village’ included a floodlit 4G pitch; a running track; a sprint track; grass pitche; a community pavilion; a cycling and teaching hub; new walking and running routes; a café; community space; and a children’s climbing and activity centre.

More than 2,500 people responded to the first phase of the consultation.

Council leader Andrew Western said: “Trafford council, along with Crossford Futures and Sale Sharks, approached the pre-planning application consultation for Crossford Bridge Community Sports Village with the shared aim to listen closely to the views of our local community and ensure every voice was heard.

“Following the initial phase of consultation, we have taken the decision not to support the proposal. We would however like to acknowledge the professionalism and transparency of Crossford Futures and Sale Sharks throughout this process, especially their willingness to listen and work collaboratively with the whole community.

“We share with Sale Sharks a desire to see them back in Sale in the future if a suitable site can be found.” 

Simon Orange, owner of Sale Sharks, said: “Our fanbase in Sale and beyond have been extraordinary in the support they have shown throughout this initial consultation.

“Our shared vision was to create a multi-sports community hub to inspire future generations and positively impact Sale through additional health, education and social inclusion programmes. We would like to thank every fan, resident, sponsor and business who has invested significant time in helping to shape these plans.

“This consultation has given us even more confidence in our future ambitions. We have made no secret that our long-held ambition is to return our elite men’s and women’s teams to our home town of Sale, and to further strengthen our community ties.

“Although disappointed by this political decision in the short term, we look forward to delivering a solution in the future that puts our great fanbase and city region at the heart of it.” 

Graham Young, director at Crossford Futures, said: “We would like to thank every one of the thousands of residents, business leaders, councillors and sports club members that took part in the initial consultation. Whilst we understand the political decision that has been taken, we are extremely disappointed that we will not be able to share the detailed plans that we have been developing over the last few months – we know many members of the local community were looking forward to seeing these.

“We are convinced that these plans would have attracted support throughout Sale and the wider borough, especially as they support the aspirations and address the concerns raised in the initial consultation.

“We are hopeful that the thinking developed during this wide-ranging consultation will not be wasted and will come to benefit the community and Sale Sharks at some point in the future.”