By Paul Nicholson
December 13 – English Championship club Queens Park Rangers have announced plans to move to a new 40,000 seater stadium as part of the £10 billion regeneration of the Old Oak area in West London.
Old Oak is about 4km from the location of the current 18,000 capacity Loftus Road ground in Shepherds Bush, where QPR have played since 1917. QPR were relegated from the Premier League last season but are favourites to return to England’s top division this season.
The announcement of QPR’s move to Old Oak comes after years of speculation for a club that has had multiple owners and suffered mix fortunes and drama, on the pitch and in the boardroom.
The Lofus Road ground sits on what would be prime real estate in a fast improving area of London. It has long been the suspicion of many fans that the club had become more of a real estate investment than a football investment for owners.
The club has partnered with Stadium Capital Developments and have a letter of collaboration with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to “bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson recently announced that the turning of Old Oak into a world-class city quarter was a regeneration priority and is to set up a Mayoral Development Corporation to achieve this. QPR’s move will be an important part of the plan – not unlike the Olympic Stadium on the east side of London was a cornerstone for the regeneration of the Stratford area.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, told the club’s website: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.
“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.
“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.
“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area – ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.”
The scheme has the provisional title of ‘New Queens Park.’
The overall development scheme has secured more than of 100 acres with planning permission expected to be granted to allow an early 2015 start. The stadium could be ready for 2017.
The cost of the whole regeneration project is estimated at £10 billion.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council also spoke to Premier League clubs Chelsea and Fulham, who are within their boundaries, about possible relocation to the Old Oak site. Both clubs have grounds on prime London real estate and have looked at redeveloping or moving location in recent years.
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