Oldham Athletic plans move forward
Oldham Athletic Football Club's (OAFC) plans for a new stadium development have moved forward after consultancy Sports Solutions GB was appointed to deliver the £20m scheme.
The npower League One club announced plans to relocate to a 30-acre (12.1-hectare) site at Failsworth last year as part of a major regeneration project to be carried out in partnership with Oldham Council. A new 12,000-capacity venue to replace OAFC's existing Boundary Park ground is at the heart of the plans, which is also set to include community sports facilities that will provide new revenue streams for the club.
Sports Solutions GB has been working alongside the club and architects Hall Needham Associates on the development, with consultation events due to be held in order to follow up a public exhibition earlier this year. The Swindon-based sports and leisure consultancy will also work to help secure private and public funding for the scheme, while also assisting in the submission of a planning application due before the end of the year.
OAFC chair Simon Coney said: "We are delighted to have been working with Sports Solutions GB to project manage this important scheme for the club. This is an exciting time for the club and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to consider relocating to a more suitable site. "We're looking forward to seeing the project progress further and are determined to provide a range of new sports facilities and a number of local jobs which will benefit the wider community."