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http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/3831_5670.php
he new North Stand would increase the capacity of Franklin’s Gardens from its current 13,500 to nearly 17,000 and will include state-of-the-art facilities for supporters, disabled fans and corporate clients. The club frequently sells out first team matches and has operated at 98% of capacity for the last few years. This means that local people often do not have the chance to watch the Saints in action. The new North Stand would mean more people will have that opportunity.
At the same time as the club’s application, ASDA will be applying for permission to build a new food store on the area currently taken up by Car Park D, off Edgar Mobbs Way. The club currently has a long-term lease on this land. ASDA’s application is for a food store, not for an out-of-town development as proposed for Sixfields recently. It is important to note the distinction. The food store would serve the communities of St James and Upton.
ASDA’s new food store would represent a £40 million investment in this area of Northampton. Up to 400 jobs would be created, plus jobs on the construction of both the food store and the new North Stand.
The new North Stand would be a multi-million pound development and is entirely dependent on ASDA receiving planning permission for the food store. The club does not otherwise have funding to go ahead on its own. All of the money earned by Northampton Saints from this deal would be invested in the new North Stand and new car parking, also on club land closer to the stadium.
There will be a full public consultation period; Northampton Saints and ASDA believe that the club’s supporters and the town’s population will wholeheartedly support the proposals, and hopes that the local politicians and planning authorities will do the same.
“It is a win-win story for all,†said Saints’ chairman Keith Barwell. “The town gets a more prestigious stadium. The public gets a new food store and more choice and competition about where they can shop. We need all of our supporters and a good majority of the good folk of the town to buy into this. I must stress that these two planning applications are dependent on each other. Bluntly, the club cannot afford to build the new stand without ASDA’s help.â€
“We are delighted to be submitting our proposal for a new store in Northampton,†said Jonathan Refoy, head of planning and property communications at ASDA. “We believe that local people would benefit from the increased choice, great value food offering and up to 400 employment opportunities that a new ASDA store would bring to the area. We look forward to discussing our proposal with the planning authorities and local community in th coming weeks.â€[/b]
