Agenda item

Cllr Orrell introduced Mark Wilson from the Huntington Stadium Team and invited him to provide an update on developments regarding the New Stadium and Leisure Complex (NSLC).

Mr Wilson explained that what was being created was a leisure destination with facilities including:

·        An 8,000 seat football and rugby league stadium, with a fanzone area and hospitality and conference facilities

·        New swimming pools, including a leisure fun splash pool

·        Extreme play centre with a high ropes climbing facility

·        Leisure and fitness centre incorporating a gym, dance and group cycling studios, a competition standard sports hall and 3G astro-turf pitches

·        A Community Hub, including a café, Explore library and NHS outpatient services

·        A cinema complex, a number of restaurants and several retail outlets.

The athletics facilities at the old stadium have been replaced by a new regional standard athletics facility at the University of York.  This will now be home to the City of York Athletic Club.  Long-term arrangements have been made for York City Knights to train at the Sports Village.

As a result of a tendering process, the new operator for NSLC would be GLL, one of the largest leisure providers in the UK. This contract will be for 13 years from the point of contact signing, with an option to extend for a further 5 years.  This provides a sustainable operating model.

An outline timetable was provided for the planned delivery of NSLC.  The project received full council approval in March 2016 and, following a period of judicial review, it is anticipated that contracts will be signed, followed by the commencement of construction work, in Summer 2016.  It is expected that NSLC will become operational in early 2018.

Mr Wilson outlined the project costs, including funding, capital costs and value for money.  In response to a query, it was explained that Prudential borrowing was introduced by the previous government as a way to allow local governments to borrow money.

In response to queries regarding the increase in traffic, Mr Wilson explained that detailed parking and travel plans had been created and signed off by the Council’s Highways Agency.  Such plans would include shuttle buses and incentives to travel to the stadium in different ways. A Park and Ride expansion will create extra parking spaces in addition to the planned parking areas at the development.  The traffic lights at the Aldi junction were being upgraded to include monitored CCTV and the footpath from Jockey Lane was being retained with both improvements and widening.

Cllr Orrell commented that traffic and parking had been discussed in detail during the original consultation process and that whilst councillors supported the scheme, they did want to ensure protection for local residents.  One issue discussed was the need for proper road signage to be in place before the NSLC opening so that traffic is not directed through New Earswick and Huntington.  The fact that lorries did not use local roads during the demolition phase provides some degree of comfort on this issue.  Mr Wilson commented that the same building contractor was to be used again for the construction.

A number of other queries were raised and discussed, including:

·        The NSLC site has been subject to an archaeological dig and been declared as ‘clean’ of archaeological remains.

·        The building of the new swimming facilities will not mean the closure of Yearsley Pool.  GLL will maintain the pool as a more sustainable option and that prices there have been frozen for the first few years in line with those at Energise.

·        Concerns were raised about shopper security on football match days.  Mr Wilson explained that YCFC have a security officer who liaises with the police beforehand to ensure security plans are in place.

·        In response to a query about stadium provision should YCK enter the Super League, Mr Wilson explained that this scenario had been considered and that there was potential to expand the seating numbers and that there was a Super League precedent for the size of the planned hospitality suite.

Further and future updates on the project can be found on twitter, Facebook and the website: www.yorkcommunitystadium.co.uk

Cllr Runciman thanked Mark Wilson for his detailed presentation.