Community Stadium report: City in the Frame

A report into the possibility of building a Community Stadium in Cambridge has considered that Cambridge City FC is a potential tenant of such a stadium.

The report, prepared for Cambridgeshire Horizons, suggests that Cambridge United FC would be ‘lead partner’ for the project, with Cambridge City and Cambridge Rugby Union Club as other potential partners. The stadium would not be solely for the use of the city’s major sporting clubs, but would provide sports facilities for schools, youth organisations and local sports teams of all ages.

It is important to note that the report is simply a feasibility study – no decision has been taken to build a Community Stadium. Any such decision would require further discussions between the interested parties and the local authorities in the area - and would be heavily dependant on finance being raised. The costs are estimated at Ł1,400 per seat, which amounts to a total cost of Ł14 million for a 10,000 capacity stadium (which is the capacity envisaged).

The report lists three potential sites for a Community Stadium, although all of these have significant problems which would need to be overcome before any stadium could be built. The sites are:

1: Milton – owned by Churchmanor Estates, who are linked to Cambridge United’s landlords. However, the site is located within the green belt and cannot be developed at present; a revision to the green belt policy of South Cambridgeshire District Council area could take up to 10 years.

2: Cambridge East – the current airport site owned by the Marshall group. However an early ‘masterplan’ has been developed and it is unclear whether a community stadium can be fitted into the wider plans for the site, the development of which looks to be some years off.

3: Cowley Road – This is the smallest of the sites identified and the only one fully within the Cambridge City boundaries. Owned by Cambridge City Council, it would provide more limited facilities (possibly a 5,000 seat stadium), but it is located in an area earmarked for development and any project is likely to get off the ground more quickly than the other sites.

The Club has been involved in the discussions with Cambridgeshire Horizons and its consultants and is pleased to be involved as a potential partner. However delivery of any Community Stadium, assuming a decision is taken to proceed, is at best going to be several years away, so the Club is still considering its options post-2010.

The report can be viewed in full at www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk