AFT meets with Tudor Evans about Higher Home Park

Full report is as follows:

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The Argyle Fans’ Trust is, along with many fans, keenly awaiting news regarding progress of the Higher Home Park (HHP) and grandstand redevelopment.

The redevelopment of the main grandstand is important for the club’s future, not only to modernise the stadium but also for the projected additional revenue it would bring, which is of increased importance given the club’s requirement to make a ‘balloon payment’ to its football creditors of up to £1.9m by the end of 2016.

Earlier this month, Andy Symons and Sam Down, Chair and Vice Chair of the AFT, met with Tudor Evans from Plymouth City Council and Luke Pollard (the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport ward) in connection with the plans for Higher Home Park and the future of the development and the land which has been designated for its usage.

A summary of the points discussed follows:

-When talking of the seriousness of failing to complete Higher Home Park in relation to the future financial stability of the club, Tudor Evans rejected the idea that HHP would be the ‘salvation’ of Argyle. Mr Evans re-iterated that Akkeron and PAFC are separate and that the completion of the stand could not and will not solve the problem of the balloon payment.
It was then re-iterated clearly that even if the development were to start tomorrow (and even if it started on time), it would never be able to raise enough money to fund the balloon payment in time. Therefore, the stand cannot be the ‘salvation’ of the club.
-Mr Evans agreed that projected income streams of £1 million + per year in extra revenue from the proposed development was ‘pushing it a lot’.
-Mr Evans went on to talk about the assistance that the Council has given in order to get the project underway. In addition to the rates relief confirmed earlier in the year, this has included rent relief to Plymouth Argyle on the ground over the two and a half years that James Brent has owned the club. This rent relief has now reached the maximum amount that the Council are allowed to give by law.
-When asked why the HHP development had stalled, Mr Evans gave a number of reasons:
Firstly, he stated that lettings on the potential site are going at a much slower rate than was planned.
The timetable has slipped far beyond its original timescale.
The plan for HHP was predicated a percentage of the funding being taken up by Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Community Health. Mr Evans stated that neither organisation was made aware of this predication by Akkeron at the time of planning permission being issued and had no way of knowing.
-Mr Evans confirmed that the plan for a hotel on Higher Home Park has fallen through and will not be happening.
-It was also re-iterated that the only obligation in terms of an ice rink was for James Brent to provide ‘continuous ice’. It does not need to be on Higher Home Park and could theoretically be located anywhere.
-Mr Evans made certain to point out that the Bretonside development was not to blame for the stalling of the HHP development. He stated that the Bretonside development has not had planning permission yet whereas HHP has had planning permission for around a year. Even before the Bretonside proposal came into public knowledge, Higher Home Park was not going as quickly with its lettings as it had hoped.
-To summarise, the AFT was informed that Higher Home Park is behind on all plans for both the fulfilment of its lettings and the planned timescale of building work. It was also predicated on letting arrangements that had not been made known to 16% of the participants (PCC and PCH). Contrary to initial plans, a hotel and studio school will not be part of any final design for HHP. As well as this, the development cannot raise the funds in time to make the balloon payment and Bretonside is not the reason for its delay.

Given the above comments by Mr Evans, the AFT feels that supporters would appreciate the club clarifying the current position on the HHP and grandstand redevelopment, as it has a direct bearing on the long-term future and sustainability of the football club.

The AFT would be more than happy to meet with the club and – if it was felt it would be helpful – explore avenues through which supporters could work with the club to help address the challenges being faced, particularly with the balloon payment in the absence of additional income from a new grandstand.

The club could also update supporters through the first of the promised Fans Forum events, which could be scheduled before an upcoming weekend match at Home Park.

We have some of the most passionate supporters in the country in the Green Army. Our fans have stepped up before when needed and – if asked – we’re confident they would do so again. The AFT is very willing to help in any way it can, if required.

In the meantime, we still give our absolute support and best wishes to John Sheridan and the boys in their League Two campaign starting with the game against Southend on Saturday.


Post edited to include full text

Hope you told him to piss off otherwise im not reading it. The man is a media whore whos word is worthless.

Should this be on our AFT thread?

Move if you like- I just thought it was relevant enough to the club's future generally to warrant a place here. But I won't object if you do move it.

Thanks Sam and despite the initial responses this is worrying but not surprising.

Thanks to you and Andy for the updates. Over to the club.

Martyn Starnes has previously said there is no Plan B.

That ignorant position is not acceptable any longer.

Brent - what is the Board's vision for this club in the immediate future? The supporters deserve to know.

What happens if Plymouth Argyle Football Club do not make the balloon payment - what are the ramifications of failure to honour that debt within the stated period?

No hotel. That's the bomb.

This is majorly good news inasmuch that no hotel means no farcically rediculous relief road strangling the Lyndhurst and Barn Park, in effect killing any further possible expansion.

Shorely now then with all that spare space from the hotel, there's no pressing need to ram the Ice Rink right up against any prospective mini-stand?

Well that certainly is a kick in the nads then - we were led to believe we had been saved by a man of vision, perhaps lift the blinkers sir!! So predictable - come on Newell, spin this little gem!!

Bandwagon wrote:

Well that certainly is a kick in the nads then - we were led to believe we had been saved by a man of vision, perhaps lift the blinkers sir!! So predictable - come on Newell, spin this little gem!!

Yeah, about that... Both Newell and De Lar have always been avid supporters of the Trust, don't you know?

*JOSTLE FOR POSITION*

So...

Car park - no taker
Hotel - abandoned
School - abandoned
Funding - even if all else is signed up 16% short due to PCC not being aware that it was contributing! (and won't)
Cinema - likely to be blown out by the Bretonside one
Grandstand - contingent on the success of all of the above so not going to happen

Ice Rink - could be built anywhere

1.22 acres of land - not yet signed over but not needed because none of it is going to happen anyway

If this doesn't all scream "HHP is dead" I don't know what does.

ejh wrote:

Bandwagon wrote:

Well that certainly is a kick in the nads then - we were led to believe we had been saved by a man of vision, perhaps lift the blinkers sir!! So predictable - come on Newell, spin this little gem!!

Yeah, about that... Both Newell and De Lar have always been avid supporters of the Trust, don't you know?

*JOSTLE FOR POSITION*

Maybe the Trust could incorporate a lifeboat into its logo somehow?

Quote :

"The plan for HHP was predicated a percentage of the funding being taken up by Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Community Health. Mr Evans stated that neither organisation was made aware of this predication by Akkeron at the time of planning permission being issued and had no way of knowing.

Mr Evans confirmed that the plan for a hotel on Higher Home Park has fallen through and will not be happening."

Apart from being pretty strong stuff most of the content is his opinion which JB will refute.

PCH in the first snippet above almost certainly relates to the Dentist practice but what is the PCC take up? I've worried before that PCC may have gotten lumbered with running the Ice Rink

If there is no hotel surely the Planning Approval is invalid unless they go for change of use for 120 rooms

I may have misunderstood the 16% bit.

"predicated on letting arrangements that had not been made known to 16% of the participants (PCC and PCH)"

What the hell does that mean?

Can planning permission be withdrawn?

In layman's terms, it means that when the planning permission was made, it was made under the assumption than PCC/PCS between them would take up 16% of the overall lettings that needed to be shifted to fund the development.

According to Tudor Evans, this 16% was accounted for without either party actually confirming that they would take the lettings.

Hope that clarifies.

I find it all predictable but unbelievable. So much for any transparency from the club. If Tudor is saying it out loud now the club (and some of it's SUPER fans) must of known about this yonks ago.

Having said that if you hop over to the The Chris Webb's twitter (make sure you tell him I sent you that'll make his day) you'll see his opinion that is all 'petty point scoring'. Far being from him to see that Brent has sold us a pup. A few cheerleaders have lashed themselves to the Brent bandwagon and won't willingly or knowingly get off as they've too much to lose. So much for all that extra curricular probing.

"It either all goes ahead or none of it does."

That's none of it then.

How long did it take the AFT to get to speak to Tudor Evans about HHP? Weeks Months

How long did it take the The The Club President?

The The wrote:

Chris Webb@Chris_Webb1 · 37s

Good to speak to @CouncillorTudor as always. All parties working to find a solution on HHP Development. Great for Plymouth #pafc #plymouth

So HHP is officially dead.
Balloon payment of 1.9M to be paid by the end of 2016.

Rejoice at the first bit.
Wonder if Brent will hang around for the second bit ?!

That's what it seems like to me SFD too. Stupid question but, how could planning be given when two 'funders' didn't know they had to put their hands in their pockets?

hippo wrote:

That's what it seems like to me SFD too.  Stupid question but, how could planning be given when two 'funders' didn't know they had to put their hands in their pockets?

Not stupid at all.

Surely that's grounds for revoking the consent already granted?

Unless they move a Lidl in to replace the school, student accommodation to replace the hotel and a McD's Drive Thru to replace the underground car park.

nikkkk wrote:

Sam,

Considering what Tudor has said, he seems remarkably knowledgeable on Akkeron affairs. From talking to him did he confirm that these are facts obtained from Akkeron ?

I think Nikkk needs to get his mate to get his probe stuck into James Brent as soon as possible

So among many of the other LIES we were told about HHP the main one that springs to attention from this latest episode was that the Ice Rink had to jam right up against the Mini-stand because there was no where else for it to go !!

So now that the Hotel and School are out of the game, with the Ice-rink now available to be placed anywhere in the city what are the chances that the club can get a Grandstand worthy of the name?

I can only dream

How much council tax has been sent into Brent's wallet with regards to the rebates etc?