Shock revamp for Falmer (From The Argus)

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Shock revamp for Falmer

8:48am Monday 15th September 2008 in News By Simon Barrett

The 2002 plans, here, will now be revamped

Plans for Falmer stadium face a dramatic revamp after costs soared by £10 million.

The soaring price of steel and changes to stadium building regulations during years of delays to the project have rendered Brighton and Hove Albion's approved plans useless.

The club has been forced to re-draw the proposals and is now preparing to submit another planning application to Brighton and Hove City Council.

The move raises the spectre of opponents to the 22,500 seater stadium again seeking to derail the plans.

Martin Perry, who heads the 30-strong stadium team, last night said the budget for the project has ballooned to £60million.

But he insisted the project was on track and assured fans work would begin on site as planned in December.

He said: “The budget is now a little over £60million. We have always maintained that the stadium is fundable and that has not changed.

“This application does not affect the work we are planning to begin by the end of the year. But yes, if the council rejected the application we would have to stop.”

The new plans will be discussed at the city council's major projects metting tomorrow.

The report reveals several changes to the designs which were originally logged with the council in 2002.

Two public inquires and a High Court legal challenge delayed the project until July 2007, when the Government finally granted approval.

Changes to the scheme include:

* An internal area increase from 18,189sq m to 27,796sq m.

* Grass topped chalk bunds, designed to allow the stadium to blend in with the surrounding environment, scrapped in favour of blockwork walls and a metal roof.

* Tubular steel arch replaced with a trussed design to cut costs.

* Plans for offices under the East Stand to be let to businesses replaced with more teaching space for City College.

* Chalk excavated from the Village Way site to be spread on a nearby field to save 22,000 lorry trips over four months.

Many of the changes, including larger concourses inside the stadium, have been imposed on the club by revisions to building regulations and new guidance from football authorities including FIFA and UEFA.

Others are financially motivated after the price of steel rocketed by 50% since the original plans were drawn up.

Mr Perry said the cost of the arch and roof alone had shot up from £6million to £12million in that time. With the planned changes, that figure will now be reduced to £8million.

The news will inevitably lead to fears that opponents of the scheme will again try to get the stadium scrapped.

Lewes District Council (LDC), Falmer Parish Council, the South Downs Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England were among those originally opposed to the stadium.

Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, said: “The club has been working alongside LDC and the chances of this being called in by the Government are nil.

“The only way an opponent could seek a judicial review is if there is an error in the way planning consent was granted.

“I am very confident that will not happen and the message to fans is simply to keep the faith.”

However Lewes MP Norman Baker, who also opposed the stadium, said: “There was always a fear among my constituents that the club would be unable to fund the scheme and would have to come back for more commercial space to sell. That now appears to be the case.

“I am very concerned.”

Comments(33)

Valerie Vole says...
8:57am Mon 15 Sep 08

What's that phrase? Oh yes a cold shiver down my spine. Please please don't let this mean yet more delays!!!