Still Waiting and Watching

It has been a very long time since there has been significant activity associated with the proposed commercial, residential and stadium development at the Memorial Ground. It has also been a very long time since Rovers' board have made any meaningful announcements about the progress or lack thereof. The only frequent activity seems to be the shuffling of shares and directors in the web of companies associated with the club, its supporters, and the stadium.

Nick Higgs has suggested that he will make an announcement on the matter in July, HorfieldROSE will be listening with interest. What can there be to announce?

They don't appear to be any closer to discharging the conditions associated with the planning permission, although they have had their agents send a few documents to the council.

There are the frequently alluded to "interested parties" in secret negotiations with deals on the verge of being brokered. We all knew about Opal's involvement fairly early on, and this is a legitimate long term deal not some dodgy dealing, so why should this all be so hush hush?

There has been a bit of surveying around the stadium entrances with a possible view to changing the Filton Avenue Gloucester Road junction. Changing the access isn't needed unless they intend to change the plans which would require yet another application.

The idea of a phased development, which is contrary to the granted planning permission has not been formally presented to the council and would require yet another application.

Unite, one of the bigger student accommodation companies has been discounting rents on its Bristol properties which suggests that market is even more competitive than a few years ago. Any other kind of accommodation at the stadium site, would require a new application and was explicitly ruled out because of the car ownership restrictions.

The existing planning permission technically expires on 16th November 2011. Although this could potentially be extended, much has changed since permission was granted and the council is not obliged to extend it if they deem the situation has changed significantly,

Or maybe the board are just stalling to try and sell as many season tickets as possible before ruling out any progress on the plans (sales are down significantly and they have extended the 5% discount period).

We will all have to wait to hear.