Lancashire go-ahead boosts Old Trafford Ashes hopes

Lancashire have been spared a government inquiry into their plans to redevelop Old Trafford, handing a major boost to their hopes of staging a Test in the next Ashes series in 2013. Trafford council announced today that the government office for the north-west will not refer the £32m scheme, which involves the construction of a new Tesco supermarket nearby, to a full inquiry. Lancashire have therefore been cleared to begin work on the redevelopment, although it could yet be the subject of a legal challenge from a rival developer because of Tesco's involvement. Lancashire were hoping to hold back the announcement until the eve of Sunday's one-day international between England and Australia at the ground, when the first stage of the redevelopment – the Point, the large red hospitality building adjacent to the old pavilion that has already aroused plenty of comment – will be officially opened by Andrew Flintoff. However, Matt Colledge, the leader of Trafford council, said: "I welcome the secretary of state's determination that the planning approval granted by Trafford for the LCCC/Tesco regeneration plan will not be called in. "This is positive news for the sports-led regeneration in Stretford and means the scheme, which will result in hundreds of local jobs in the area and help secure the future of Test cricket at Old Trafford, moves significantly closer to reality."