Shrimp stadium plans include new hotel

Morecambe FC’s new stadium will include a 40-bedroom hotel, seven food and drink establishments, a drive-though restaurant, a club shop, 76 car parking spaces and a public amenity space.

Lancaster City Council’s planning committee passed the multi-million pound plans for council-owned land at the current Westgate Wanderers football field.

The decision is seen as a major hurdle in the club’s ambition to move from Christie Park.

The plans also include an outdoor multi-sports area, a new access road from Westgate, circulation roads, 264 car parking spaces and eight coach parking spaces.

The stadium will have capacity for 6,918 spectators – 4,966 standing, 1,898 seated and 54 wheelchair spaces – with scope for converting to all-seater in the future.

In June it was announced that Morecambe was now working towards opening the new ground in 2010/2011, rather than the original schedule for 2009/10.