'PLANNING APPLICATION CAN TRANSFORM SPORT IN CAMBRIDGE AND ENABLE UNITED TO DO EVEN MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY'
Yesterday, Grosvenor put forward plans that would transform sports provision in Cambridge with a Sporting Village in Trumpington and the redevelopment of the Newmarket Road End at the Cambs Glass Stadium.Commenting on the submission of Grosvenor's planning application Cambridge United Chairman Dave Doggett said: "This planning application represents an important moment for the future of Cambridge United and for sport more widely across Cambridge. We are grateful for the patience of our supporters over recent months.
"Now they can see the detail of the proposals I hope they are excited about the potential for the Club and for its wider work in the community. We are proud of the progress we have made in recent years and this application would allow us to write the next positive chapter for the Club.
"There would be many benefits.”
Cambridge United CEO Jez George outlined the benefits a successful planning outcome would provide the Club.
“Long Term Financial Security
- Most importantly a successful planning outcome would secure the long-term future of the Club as it would ensure we would be able to pay a fair and sustainable rent to our landlord. Over the past few years Grosvenor have given us significant rent relief for which we are very grateful. Without it the Club would have struggled to remain financially viable. But we recognise it is unlikely to continue indefinitely.
Better Stadium Facilities
- It would allow us to improve facilities at the Club significantly on both sites. The Club harbours ambitions to progress up the football pyramid and we believe that this is a realistic target given our position within one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. We all love the Cambs Glass Stadium but we all know it needs more investment, increased capacity and an improved match day experience for fans.
New Academy Facilities
- The new facilities at the Sporting Village in Trumpington would remove all significant impediments to our Academy's progression towards Category 2 status, particularly the indoor artificial pitch which is a prerequisite for this standard. Achieving Category 2 status would allow the Club to access more funding for our Academy and ensure that talented young footballers in Cambridgeshire can continue to receive the best sporting education possible.
More Community Sports Activity
- The vast majority of the time on the indoor and outdoor artificial pitches used by Cambridge United at the Sporting Village would be for community activities delivered by the Club's Youth Development and Community department and charitable arm, Cambridge United Community Trust, allowing the Club to continue growing sporting participation across Cambridgeshire.”
Finally, Chairman Dave Doggett discussed the manner in which a positive planning outcome would affect the future of sport across the city and added: "This planning application can transform sport in Cambridge and enable the Club to do even more for the community.
“Over the coming months the support of everyone associated with Cambridge United for these proposals will be more important than ever."