Here's the most recent news on the project:
Homes will help fund Latics’ new stadium
AN artist's impression of the new ground. (Image courtesy of Frank Whittle Partnership)AN artist's impression of the new ground. (Image courtesy of Frank Whittle Partnership)
EXCLUSIVE
OLDHAM Athletic have unveiled revised plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment of Boundary Park – and work is set to start this summer.
Officials will submit a planning application within weeks for the phased scheme to provide the borough with a state-of-the-art 16,000-seater venue.
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The scheme now places more emphasis on residential development to enable the club to fund the significant costs of their stadium plans.
The amount of lettable office space has halved from 100,000 to 50,000sq ft due to a disappointing uptake from business and public bodies.
But there is now provision for approximately 600-650 new dwellings – a mix of one and two-bed apartments and three-bed town houses – plus 80-100 key worker units on the 21-acre site.
The original plan for a landmark tower hotel has also been ditched but the club this week revealed an alternative deal to purchase and demolish the Clayton Arms as part of their vision for a new West Stand.
The old bar and sports hall will now make way for a three-star hotel with a capacity of approximately 80 bedrooms and undercroft parking for around 70 vehicles.
Much-maligned public changing facilities on the Clayton playing fields would also be rebuilt and there is additional space for ancillary retail units, such as convenience stores and small cafes, around the stadium.
Ian Hill, Latics director, said: "We now hope to submit the planning application by the end of February. We would like to start demolition and re-development work on the New Start Mortgages Stand (the new North Stand) as soon as possible at the end of this season, although that would obviously depend on planning consent being received.
"That would take around 12-18 months to complete and after that work would start on where the interest and demand is highest. In an ideal world we’d be redeveloping the Chadderton Road End next.
"The revised scheme has a lot more emphasis on apartments simply because that is now proving to be the best way that we can fund the redevelopment." The stadium elements of the original plans – which left the Rochdale Road End intact – remain broadly unchanged.
The three other stands would be completely rebuilt to incorporate new operational and conferencing suites plus complimentary facilities such as high quality office space and a fitness centre.
The proposed new residential units would be located to the rear of the current Chadderton and Rochdale Road ends with a ‘green corridor’ between them and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Officials held a consultation meeting with residents this week to explain their amended scheme.
Ian Hill hailed the purchase of the Clayton Arms from local brewery JW Lees as the "final piece in the jigsaw".
He said: "For some time now we have been in discussion with the brewery regarding the acquisition of the Clayton Arms and their positive support has now given us the opportunity to move forward with the re-development."
The venue will officially change hands later this year in order to allow it to honour bookings.
Guide To The Ground
NORTH STAND (currently the New Start Mortgages Stand)
Seating capacity 5,200
Concourse/ancillary facilities at first-floor level
New Main Stand with club facilities - changing rooms, ticket office, shop etc
50,000 sq ft lettable office space
Function/conferencing space - 500 seated
Executive boxes (approx 25)
WEST STAND (currently the Chadderton Road Stand)
Seating capacity 3,200
Concourse and ancillary facilities at first-floor level
Three-star hotel - approx 80 bedrooms
Undercroft parking for approx 70 cars
SOUTH STAND (currently the Main Stand)
Seating capacity 3,000
Concourse and ancillary facilities at ground floor level
Health and fitness club - approx 17,000 sq ft
Carl Marsden
