QPR Want 30,000 Capacity Sports and Community Hub
Club publish response to H&F consultation on Linford Christie Stadium
QPR have published their response to H&F Council's consultation on the future of Linford Christie Stadium, laying out the club’s desire for a 30,000 community stadium that would keep the club in the area for the long term but can also be utilised for community use.
The club says they have asked for space to expand the work of our charitable arm, QPR in the Community Trust, as well as facilities to provide education and training with local partners and to promote the use of Wormwood Scrubs for exercise and recreation.
The document, which can be read on the club's website says its wishlist is as follows:
• 30,000 capacity stadium that meets all EFL and Premier League requirements.
• Capturing the intimacy and atmosphere of Loftus Road, with every seat close to the pitch and a steep rake.
• Compatible for safe standing, as and when regulations are changed.
• Exceeding current or expected accessibility requirements for individuals with a disability and an ageing demographic.
• Acoustically designed to keep maximum noise inside the stadium, encouraging a good atmosphere.
• Incorporating club’s history and heritage, including a QPR museum.
• Providing a home (office space and rooms to deliver programmes) for QPR in the Community Trust, the club’s charitable arm.
• Designed for flexible use all year round, so the stadium is not left virtually empty 340 days of the year like Loftus Road. Allowing for corporate and community use, including education/training, health, leisure, fitness and social activities.
• Demonstrating best practice in sustainable and environmentally focused design. Non-matchday facilities to promote use of Wormwood Scrubs for exercise and recreation, including an Ecology Centre, as proposed by LBHF Biodiversity Commission Report (2017)v.
• Fit for the 21st century. Technologically advanced, future-proofed for digital innovations.
• Ten per cent premium seating or hospitality, in line with Championship average.
CEO Lee Hoos says: " QPR supporters love our home at Loftus Road but they also understand better than anyone its limitations. Much as we wish it wasn’t the case, the club simply cannot survive here in the long term. It is the third smallest ground in the league, with little or no non-matchday use, facilities that are severely outdated and no ability to redevelop on site.
"For the club to be sustainable we have to move and QPR’s involvement in the future of the Linford Christie Stadium is, as far as we can see, the only option that would keep us in W12 in the medium to long term.
"Over the last two years we have met dozens of local organisations such as schools, charities, residents groups and the police to listen to their suggestions about how a redevelopment of the Linford Christie Stadium site involving QPR could benefit the area. It is important for us to be transparent with supporters as well as the local community about what we want to see there, which is why we have published our response to the consultation.
"We believe a 30,000 seater community stadium could not only provide a new sustainable home for QPR and keep us in W12 for the long term, but it could be a hub for the community on non-matchdays to benefit the local area. The potential for an exciting community sports hub with QPR and QPR in the Community Trust at the heart of it is huge."
QPR supporters, local residents and stakeholders still have time to take part in the consultation. QPR is urging all those who want QPR to stay in W12 to select 'option 3 – major redevelopment' in their responses, and there is also an opportunity for people to add their own comments.
You can take part in the public consultation until the deadline of 12 June.
April 29, 2019