Dunno if its a flash in the pan from RFC but methinks that it will be a few years before this come to fruit.
Item 6Ibrox Stadium Precinct Development Proposal (G51 Project) Agreement in Principle to Dispose of Council Land to Rangers Football Club PLC Purpose of Report: To advise members of proposals being prepared by Rangers Football Club (PLC) PLC (hereafter referred to as RFC) to redevelop the Ibrox Stadium precinct, and of the request from RFC for the Council to give RFC an option to purchase the Council owned land necessary to deliver the project.
It is recommended that the Committee: • Notes that The Rangers Football Club (RFC) is developing new proposals for the redevelopment of the Ibrox Stadium Precinct.
• Notes that the project will make a very significant contribution to the regeneration of the Govan area.
• Notes that the precinct project area includes land and facilities owned and operated by the Council, and land owned by Glasgow Housing Association and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
• Agrees, in principle, to dispose of its land holdings within the Rangers Stadium precinct area to facilitate the development and delivery of the stadium precinct project.
• Authorises the Director of DRS to enter into an option agreement which would give RFC an option to purchase Council owned land (and any land transferring to the Council from GHA) within the RFC stadium precinct area, on terms yet to be agreed.
• Notes that a further report outlining the full terms of the option agreement, and the proposed development timescales will be brought back to Committee for consideration in due course.
1. THE PROPOSAL
1.1 Committee members will be aware that Rangers Football Club PLC (RFC) secured
planning consent in 2005 for a major development around Ibrox Stadium, including a
regional casino (and associated minor retail development), a 4/5 star hotel, conference
facilities, leisure centre, and new public realm in and around the stadium and its main
accesses.
1.2 The decision taken by the UK government not to award licences for regional casino
development has undermined the economic viability of this particular proposal, and it will
not therefore proceed. The Executive Director of Development and Regeneration Services
has, therefore, been in discussion with RFC regarding the possibility of developing a new
masterplan for the redevelopment of the stadium and its precincts.
1.3 The proposed Masterplan would take account of the development principles set out in City
Plan 1 (and the proposals in City Plan2), the implications of the impending demolition of
GHA tenemental properties in Hinshelwood Drive, and the anticipated demolition of the
multi-storey flats adjacent to the Ibrox car parking area. These discussions have also
involved Glasgow Housing Association and SPT given their general interests in
regeneration, and their more specific interests as land holders within the stadium precinct
area.
1.4 During these discussions RFC have increased their overall aspirations for the site and,
earlier in 2008, announced that they were assessing the commercial viability of a number of
development options which included the improvement/redevelopment of the stadium itself,
the erection of additional conference/exhibition facilities, the construction of new hotel
accommodation, the construction of new public realm and civic spaces, and the
construction of additional residential development. These proposals are far more
ambitious in scale, and cost, than the plans which currently have planning consent, and
have the overall objective of creating a mixed use, ‘state of the art’ sports, convention and
entertainment development destination, whilst assisting the regeneration of the local area.
1.5 The development of these proposals is at an early stage, although RFC are now moving
towards appointing the full professional team to produce a masterplan and associated
planning applications for the development. The intention is to bring this masterplan to
Committee for consideration in due course, after which it would provide additional guidance
against which detailed planning applications for individual elements of the development
could be considered.
1.6 The development of the Ibrox stadium precinct by RFC cannot be achieved without the
incorporation of land currently owned by the Council (see plan attached) SPT, and GHA.
Given that RFC are an adjacent owner, and that the development could not proceed
without the Council land being incorporated into the project there is clear justification, within
the Council policy on ‘off market’ sales for the Council to dispose of its land holdings to
RFC subject to receiving full market value. The Council has arranged meetings between
RFC, SPT and GHA, and the latter two organisations are considering similar requests from
RFC to make the land necessary to deliver the stadium development.
1.7 Delivering the project will also require the relocation of the former Ibrox Sports Trust facility
on Edmiston Drive, now operated on an annual lease by Culture and Sport Glasgow. The
intention is to relocate this within Govan. The costs of developing a ‘like for like’ facility are
subject to ongoing negotiation with RFC.
1.8 Prior to committing the substantial financial resources required to undertake the detailed
technical work necessary to develop a stadium precinct masterplan plan, and subsequently
applying for outline and/or detailed planning applications, RFC are seeking confirmation
that the Council would be willing to enter into an option agreement which would confirm the
availability of its land for the development.
1.9 It is proposed therefore that Committee:
• Notes that The Rangers Football Club (RFC) is developing new proposals for the
redevelopment of the Ibrox Stadium Precinct.
• Notes that the project being developed will make a very significant contribution top
the regeneration of the Govan area.
• Notes that the precinct project area includes land and facilities owned and operated
by the Council, and land owned by Glasgow Housing Association and Strathclyde
Partnership for Transport.
• Agrees, in principle, to dispose of its land holdings within the Rangers Stadium
precinct area to facilitate the development and delivery of the stadium precinct
project.
• Authorises the Director of DRS to enter into an option agreement which would give
RFC an option to purchase Council owned land (and any land transferring to the
Council from GHA) within the RFC stadium precinct area, on terms yet to be agreed.
• Notes that a further report outlining the full terms of the option agreement, and the
proposed development timescales will be brought back to Committee for
consideration in due course.
2. SERVICE IMPLICATIONS
Financial: Any disposal would result in a capital receipt for the Council.
Legal: The Council will enter into an option agreement with The
Rangers Football Club plc.
Personnel: None.
Environmental: The proposal will lead to the redevelopment of an area of
vacant/underused land and housing areas scheduled for demolition.
Service Plan: The proposals will contribute to the overall regeneration strategy for the
Govan area which is currently being developed.
Development and Regeneration Services
SI (192-08)
3 October 2008