York Community Stadium

York Community Stadium

Conceptual image of proposed York Community Stadium, 2014
York Community Stadium
Location of proposed York Community Stadium
Full name York Community Stadium
Location Huntington, York, England
Coordinates 53°59′05.2″N 1°03′10.3″W / 53.984778°N 1.052861°W / 53.984778; -1.052861Coordinates: 53°59′05.2″N 1°03′10.3″W / 53.984778°N 1.052861°W / 53.984778; -1.052861
Owner City of York Council
Operator York City F.C.
Capacity 8,005
Field size 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd) (football)
100 by 68 metres (109 by 74 yd) (rugby league)
Surface Reinforced natural grass
Construction
Broke ground 2016 (projected)
Built 2016–2018 (projected)
Opened 2018 (projected)
Construction cost £44.2 million
Architect Greenwich Leisure Ltd
Tenants
York City F.C.
York City Knights

The York Community Stadium is a proposed multi-purpose stadium in Huntington, York, England. It will be owned by City of York Council, and be shared by York City Football Club and York City Knights Rugby League Football Club. The projected capacity of the all-seater stadium is 8,005.

The move to a new stadium was necessitated by the terms of the loan York City secured from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to purchase their Bootham Crescent ground. Planning permission for the current design, put forward by Greenwich Leisure Ltd, was granted in March 2015. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2016, for completion in early 2018. In addition to the stadium, the site will house a leisure complex and a community hub.

Background

York City F.C. ceased ownership of their Bootham Crescent ground in the summer of 1999, after the club's real property assets were transferred to a holding company called Bootham Crescent Holdings.[1] The club secured a £2 million loan from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) to buy the ground in February 2004.[2] The terms of this loan required the club to identify a site for a new stadium by 2007, and have detailed planning permission by 2009, to avoid financial penalties.[3] Once plans for a new stadium were in place, the loan would turn into a grant to assist in funding the relocation.[3]

As part of the loan agreement, Persimmon have first refusal on purchasing Bootham Crescent once York City leave, for 10% lower than its market value.[4] Persimmon still intend to build 93 homes on the site, and the proceeds of the sale would go towards building the new stadium.[5] In March 2008, York City's managing director Jason McGill cited "the annual cost of £60,000 for the maintenance and upkeep of a 1932 stadium with few commercial and income-generating opportunities" as the reason for the continued need to move to a new stadium.[6]

Planning history

York City had identified a preferred site for a new stadium by April 2007, but were unable to disclose the location due to confidentiality clauses.[7][8] Despite the club failing to formally identify a site by the end of 2007, financial penalties were not incurred, as the FSIF were satisfied with the progress made.[8] However, McGill said plans with the preferred site had stalled by March 2008.[9] City of York Council announced its commitment to building a community stadium in May 2008,[10] which would be used by York City and the city's rugby league club, York City Knights RLFC.[11]

A project board was established in January 2009, with the objective of ensuring the stadium be built by 2012.[12] City councillors approved the outline business case for the stadium in June 2009, meaning officials could start searching for sites.[13] Four sites were put forward to the council in June 2010, and York City favoured the option of building a 6,000 all-seater stadium at Monks Cross in Huntington, to the north of York, on the site of Huntington Stadium, which would be ready by 2014 at the earliest.[14] Mark Stead of The Press noted the advantages of this site, including the potential for land value to include, the opportunity to build health and fitness facilities and commercial interest, and the disadvantages, including a scheduled ancient monument being located on adjacent land and traffic concerns.[14] In July 2010, this location was chosen by the council executive as their preferred option.[15]

Developers Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd submitted a planning application for a community stadium, for use by York City and York City Knights, and a retail park in September 2011.[16] The council granted planning permission for the development in May 2012, with the stadium expected to be ready during the 2014–15 season.[17] Gavin Aitchison of The Press commented that "one of York’s biggest planning controversies in years finally came to a head" after the planning committee meeting that lasted over eight hours.[17] Critics argued the development would damage the city centre economy, with a report by Deloitte saying the development would cost the city centre £50 million a year.[17] In November 2012, construction was delayed until June 2014, for a completion date of July 2015.[18] A delay to the construction of the shopping park in June 2013, caused by the discovery of protected great crested newts at the site, meant the stadium completion date was moved to January 2016.[19]

In August 2014, Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) were named as the council's preferred bidder to deliver an 8,000 all-seater stadium, to be shared by York City and York City Knights, and a leisure complex and a community hub.[20] Construction was due to start during spring 2015, for a completion date of July 2016.[20] York City were given responsibility for operating and managing the stadium on an initial 13-year contract.[21] A planning application for the GLL plan was submitted to the council in December 2014,[22] which was passed in March 2015.[23] The cost of the stadium and leisure complex, including a replacement athletics track at another site, stood at £37 million.[22]

In July 2015, construction was delayed as contracts were still being finalised, and the completion date was moved to during the 2016–17 season.[24] Construction was delayed again a month later, with work to begin in February or March 2016, for completion in April or May 2017.[25] With construction costs increasing due to more detailed design work, construction inflation and delays, the council pledged an additional £7.2 million in March 2016, raising the total cost of the project to £44.2 million.[26][27] Construction was delayed to the summer of 2016, for completion in early 2018.[26]

Structure and facilities

The stadium is projected to have an all-seated capacity of 8,005.[28] It will comprise four stands; the East Stand (Main Stand), the West Stand, the North Stand and the South Stand.[28] The three-floored East Stand is to accommodate hospitality guests, players, officials and the media, and will be connected to the adjacent retail and community facilities.[28] The stands will stretch the length of the playing field, and each corner will host stadium facilities, including matchday emergency services, stewarding, groundsman accommodation, plant space and a fan zone.[28] The seats will be coloured red, white and blue, a combination of the colours of both teams.[28]

The pitch will use reinforced natural grass, with provision to counter frost.[28] The dimensions for football matches will be 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd), with 3-metre-wide run-offs on the sides and 6.5- metre-wide run-offs behind the goals, which will meet FIFA recommendations.[28] The dimensions for rugby league matches will be 100 by 68 metres (109 by 74 yd), with 6-metre in-goal areas, and 3-metre-wide run-offs on the sides and after the dead ball lines.[28]

Adjoining the stadium will be the leisure complex, which will include a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, a sports hall for netball, badminton and basketball, a gym with dance and spinning studios, an adventure sports zone and three 3G five-a-side pitches.[20] A community hub will house health and well-being services for York residents and visitors, including clinical services, an independent living assessment centre and a library.[20]

Transport

Regular bus services will serve the stadium from the city centre, and additional services to other areas will be considered if there is sufficient demand.[29] A review of the park and ride operating times will take place, with an extension to the service to be sought.[29] On matchdays, 400 car parking places and 355 cycle parking places will be available at the stadium.[29] A cycle route exists between the site and the city centre.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Batters, David (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  2. ↑ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 101–102.
  3. 1 2 Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 102.
  4. ↑ Flett, Dave (11 June 2004). "The small print". York Evening Press. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Carroll, Steve (18 October 2008). "Persimmon in ground pledge". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 107.
  7. ↑ Aitchison, Gavin (4 April 2007). "York City FC on verge of stadium deal". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 Flett, Dave (13 December 2007). "Santa Clause to City rescue". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Flett, Dave (27 March 2008). "McGill: Club being used as a "political football"". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "City stadium decision secures 'bright future' for Minstermen". The Press. York. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Aitchison, Gavin (9 July 2008). "Council to lend York City £2.1m". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "York community stadium board approved". The Press. York. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Aitchison, Gavin (24 June 2009). "York's community stadium dream gets backing from councillors". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  14. 1 2 Stead, Mark (26 June 2010). "York City set sights on Monks Cross stadium move". The Press. York. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Stead, Mark (7 July 2010). "Monks Cross named as preferred site for York's community stadium". The Press. York. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Stead, Mark (27 September 2011). "York stadium and shopping park plans unveiled". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 Aitchison, Gavin (17 May 2012). "Councillors approve community stadium and shops plan at Monks Cross after mammoth meeting". The Press. York. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  18. ↑ Liptrot, Kate (1 November 2012). "Anger at York community stadium delay". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Stead, Mark (19 June 2013). "New delay for York's community stadium project". The Press. York. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Winning bid announced for Community Stadium". York City F.C. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  21. ↑ Carroll, Steve (30 August 2014). "York City take charge of operation of new Community Stadium". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  22. 1 2 Ross, Alex (22 December 2014). "Community stadium plans submitted to council". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Prest, Victoria (28 March 2015). "Planning permission has been granted for the Community Stadium complex". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Prest, Victoria (13 July 2015). "York's new stadium is delayed again and won't now be ready for start of 2016/17 season". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  25. ↑ Laycock, Mike (19 August 2015). "York stadium project delayed yet again". The Press. York. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  26. 1 2 Prest, Victoria (10 March 2016). "York stadium: Football & rugby clubs say new delay will cause uncertainty". The Press. York. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  27. ↑ Prest, Victoria (17 March 2016). "Green light for Community Stadium complex". The Press. York. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Stadium information". York Community Stadium. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "FAQs". York Community Stadium. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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