MANCHESTER Sale Rugby Club has been given the go-ahead to boost the capacity at its compact ground.

Planning chiefs have approved Sale Sharks' bid to open a temporary stand at the Heywood Road ground in Brooklands.

A new 861-capacity stand will be erected at the eastern end of the ground.

A previous application for permission for a 1,341 capacity stand that had already been put up was refused in January, and the Zurich Premiership club ordered to remove the stand.

Since then the club has worked with planning officers, ward councillors and the community to come up with acceptable proposals.

The 5.5 metre stand that will now be built is 1.5 metre lower than the previous one. The stand will have one metre advertisement hoardings, whereas the old stand had 2.5 metre hoardings.

Planning permission has been granted for a two year period for the steel framed stand and toilet facilities.

Cllr Brian Rigby told the planning development control committee: "I am very pleased the club, council and residents are now working together to find solutions for the rugby club. We want them to stay in Trafford.

"This application is much improved and it speaks volumes when there are only two letters of complaint from a densely populated area."

Last season the club had the most successful time in its history, winning the Parker Pen shield and gaining a runners up spot in the Zurich Premiership.

But the club has indicated it may have to move out of Trafford to ensure its long-term survival and prosperity.