As you will know there was a meeting last night at Wyberton Village Hall regarding the new BUFC stadium.
I was surprised to find that there was 150 people attending the meeting, and even more surprised to find that both David Newton and Neil Kempster were there to give a presentation regarding the proposals.
It would appear that the proposed stadium will have a capacity of around 4,800 and that there will be 3 low level stands (similar to Spayne Lane), and that there will be one main stand with around 1500 seats, and ancillary accommodation, located behind one of the goals, at the west end of the stadium.
From the images displayed it would appear that Chestnut Homes has commissioned WMA Architects, and from a search on the internet it would appear that WMA are based near Sheffield :-
"WMA is a fully independent Practice with experience in the design and management of a wide range of building projects. They include sport and leisure arenas, complex industrial manufacturing facilities and high quality educational and commercial office accommodation. Based in Sheffield, the Company continues to be involved with a wide range of projects throughout the UK and overseas.
The Practice offers a full consultancy service from initial feasibility studies and master planning, including project management, architectural and interior design, design development, tender and construction information and contract supervision through to project completion. In addition, we offer, town planning services and 3D computer imaging.
Many of our projects are in the sports and leisure field particularly rugby and soccer stadia.. These projects have also included hospitality bars and restaurants, conference and banqueting facilities, fitness centres, a hotel and a performing arts centre, all of which employ our particular expertise in interior design.
Industrial buildings, particularly in the steel and processing industries, have always been a significant element of our work. Over the last few years we have successfully developed a number of major manufacturing facilities.
Other areas of expertise include higher education buildings, museums and health care buildings, transportation and commercial developments.
By care and attention to detail, close co-ordination with the client and other disciplines, WMA aim to provide buildings that satisfy the client’s requirements with a quality design, on time, and to budget. We concentrate on our Client’s requirements in order to provide the best possible standard of professional service".
David Newton made reference to the orientation of the football stadium in respect to light etc, but from memory I am not convinced that the proposed orientation is in accordance with the information / guidance published by The Football Association, etc.
It was also stated on one of the slides that the stadium would be owned by a BUFC Community Interest Community and that BUFC would be a tenant of the BUFC CIC as would all the other BUFC branded entities, ie Community Football ? Education, etc, etc. There is also proposals for an all weather pitch, and conference facilities for weddings etc in the main stand.
No information was provided as to the cost of the new stadium, or where the funding would be obtained from.
However, it was stated that the whole development of 500 dwellings, and 12 acres of retail development, plus other commercial developments, ie hotels, restaurants, etc would be valued at £100 million, and that 450 new jobs would be created as the result of the development, No breakdown was provided as to where these jobs would be, i.e. car park attendants?
David Newton did verbally confirm that Chestnut Homes already own 3 adjoining residential properties facing on London Road, and had owned these properties for a number of years, and that this is where access would be obtained in the land behind.
David Newton did verbally state that the proposed Supermarket could be upto 90,000sq. ft. which is larger than the latest ASDA, and the existing TESCO and that they do not have an end user but that they do have letting agents, most likely Hodgkinson Elkingson would look after all the residential management companies for each of their residential development sites throughout Lincolnshire.
David Newton also stated that the new road between the A16 and London Road would not be constructed to the standard of a Distributor Road but would be designed so that this upgrading could be achieved at a later date !!!! presumably by Lincolnshire County Council?
David Newton verbally reassured everyone present that the residential properties adjacent to existing residential dwellings would not be 3 storeys, as illustrated in the various photographs. There was no such assurance that the new dwellings in the centre of the development would not be 3 or more storeys. There was talk about there being around 20% social housing but this would be a matter for the Local Authority (Boston Borough Council) to determine through the planning process.
David newton did verbally state that Chestnut Homes would not undertake all the residential development themselves and that they would sell some of the land off, with the benefit of planning permission to other residential property developers (!)
The general consensus at the meeting was that the residents present did not want the proposed development, either the football club, or the additional housing, and that the new football stadium should be located next to DABSI to supplement the existing sporting facilities !
From the information presented at tonight's meeting there is nothing unique in the stadium's design, or location, that would not prevent the proposed stadium being position off the Boardsides adjacent to DABSI in my humble opinion !
As eminent fans of the club, who else was there last night?
