Edit: Please try to raise your objections directly on the Trafford Planning Portal or by emailing development.management@trafford.gov.uk .

Trafford Council have advised the petition may be ignored, as they cannot verify the location of the signees.

I am a resident who lives near the Manchester United stadium, and would like to object to the planned fan zone at Old Trafford football stadium. (Application 119716/FUL/26)

The full planning application can be viewed on the Trafford Planning Portal.

The planned fan zone is set to operate for extended hours, significantly increasing noise levels for the surrounding community, and will be located just 110m from the nearest residential properties, despite the applicant owning large areas of land on non residential sides of the stadium. Specifically, the fan zone would operate for up to 6 additional hours on an estimated 19 to 30 occasions each year, with music levels that will exceed the current guidelines, as noted in the Noise Assessment of the application.

Located within 150m of the proposed fan zone are 36 residential flats, and multiple semi detached and terraced houses, with a varying population of families with young children, elderly and those who work irregular shifts, all of whom would be negatively affected by the increased noise from the planned fan zone.

The Noise Assessment (section 5.6), submitted as part of the planning application, specifically notes "The predicted noise level from amplified music at the closest noise sensitive properties exceeds the guideline music noise level in accordance with the Noise Council’s Code of Practice."

The Noise Assessment also acknowledges that "Negligible attenuation would be provided by the canopy". (i.e. the sound will not be reduced by the canopy)

DEFRA acknowledges that 'noise pollution'  is "second only to poor air quality as an environmental cause of ill health in Europe. Chronic exposure leads to severe health risks, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, sleep disturbance, high blood pressure, and long-term annoyance as well as increased anxiety"

In summary:
The proposal for a new fan zone, located just 110m from 36 residential flats and multiple houses, should be rejected, as the planning application itself indicates that the noise levels will exceed guidance, for an extra 4-6 hours on 19-30 match days per season. This could be as much as 180 hours of additional and exceptional noise nuisance per annum.

As a result, I have signed this letter with the intention to object to the planned fan zone at Old Trafford due to the proximity of local homes.

We would encourage the applicants to consider an alternative location for the fan zone, on the non residential side of the ground, where there is ample space already owned by Manchester United.

We all want a vibrant Old Trafford and Gorse Hill area, but not at the expense of  increased noise pollution for local residents.