ColinLee said:
petrusha posted an excellent response to your post but you talk about the Asda being crazy to sell? Do they own the land or is it leased from MCC as someone else claimed?
If it is leased it's not going to be a case of "Get em out by friday! You don't get paid till the last ones well on his way". They'll be in discussions regarding a much better plot for them and won't move until a new store is ready to move in. Even if owned the same discussions would take place.
Does anyone know for sure (rather than just speculating) about the ownership?
I claimed it was leased. Back when I had a contact involved with the Etihad Campus project and wider development issues, I was told that Walmart had the plot on a long-term lease. I assumed it to be the case when in the Eastlands Regeneration Framework suggested that the ASDA plot is a development site (see plan on page 28 at the start of section 7, 'The design directions for Eastlands'). However, I can't confirm it for sure.
However, even if ASDA owns it outright, the Council owns lots of development land in East Manchester. As long as Walmart thinks that one of those sites is acceptable, there's scope for some kind of land swap with a cash adjustment if necessary or other kind of sweetener. (For example, how about they're granted certain concessions to sell MCFC goods in the new store, or are allowed a small-ish presence on the campus itself aimed at serving visitors rather than the local population).
