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10 key questions answered on Coventry City's Butts Park Arena ground share plans
Chief reporter Simon Gilbert looks at the major questions around a potential move to the city centre stadium
- Chief reporter Simon Gilbert looks at the major questions around a potential move to the city centre stadium
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Plans have been drawn up which could allow
Coventry City to relocate to Butts Park Arena as part of a ground share deal with Coventry RFC.
The Telegraph broke the news this morning after
Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp confirmed to us that talks had been held since the start of the year over a potential partnership.
However, the plans are at a very early stage and there will be a number of hurdles to overcome.
Here we look at the ins and outs of the proposals:
What are the plans?
Butts Park Arena, home of Coventry Rugby
Architects have drawn up proposals which could allow the 3,000 capacity
Butts Park Arena to be expanded in order to accommodate the larger Coventry City crowds.
The plans could also include student accommodation, retail, community facilities and a gym.
How big could the stadium be?
AFLS+P
A previous architects' image for new Coventry City stadium
Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp says the ground could be expanded to 25,000 seats - but that both parties are working towards an aim of about 15,000 seats.
Land is limited at the site - which is less than eight acres - so proposals could include two tier stands, lowering the pitch and backing onto land next to the nearby rail track.
How long has this been in the pipeline?
Fans of Coventry City stage a protest outside Sixfields
Rumours of a possible ground share at The Butts have been circulating ever since the Sky Blues temporarily left the
Ricoh Arena for Sixfields in 2013.
But Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp ruled out a ground share with CCFC as recently as December 2015.
He said then: “We talk to them, but we do not have any specific plans to work with them. I’m quite adamant about this.”
Today he confirmed talks had taken place since the start of this year.
What are the main obstacles?
Retirement flats being built behind Butts Park Arena
Coventry Rugby Properties LLP owns the 125-year lease from
Coventry City Council for the Butts Park Arena site.
That long standing lease contains restrictions which mean the site can only currently be used by a rugby club.
Parking will be a huge headache in any planning application.
It remains to be seen whether regular buses and the proximity of the train station are strong enough mitigation for a lack of on-site parking.
There’s also the minor problem of the nearby retirement complex which will accommodate 350 elderly residents when it opens in July.
Could the council block the move?
Coventry Council House
The council owns the freehold of the stadium and there are long-standing restrictions on the lease which mean it can only be used by a rugby club.
Council officials would presumably need to sign off changes to the lease in order for CCFC to move into the site.
This looks like a potential legal battle waiting to happen.
Consideration of the actual plans is a different matter. The council’s planning committee is bound by planning law and can only act in line with official guidance.
If the council ignored planning laws to block an application it could face action from central government on appeal.