Major property deal opens way for new home for Bristol Rovers
A major property deal has been signed which could pave the way for Bristol Rovers moving to a new home.
Conygar Bristol Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Conygar Investment Company PLC, has exchanged contracts with the Wholesale Bristol Fruit Market for land at St Philips Marsh, where the market is currently located.
The £450,000 deal could trigger a move across the city from the Memorial Ground in Horfield for the League One club.
Bristol Rovers is backing the deal and has welcomed the news today of the contract exchange.
Rovers say the regeneration of St Philip’s Marsh offers a great opportunity for the region and the football club.
Bristol Rovers has had several homes in its long history including the current stadium. Plans to sell the ground in the north of the city to Sainsbury’s supermarket fell through after years of wrangling over planning permission.
Bristol City Council and its partners, including West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Homes England, see St Philip’s Marsh as a key part of major regeneration plans for the surrounding area.
A statement from the club said: “Over the next few months, we will work with Conygar to play our part in creating a vision for the site that supports the needs of the city as well as ensuring that we protect the long-term interests of the football club.
“Bristol Rovers Football Club has been a part of these discussions for the past two-and-a-half years and we will now work with Conygar to finalise the plans unlocking the potential of the site for the city and the football club.”
Club President Wael Al Qadi said: “This announcement marks a big milestone in our journey for a new stadium. We have been in positive discussions with the team at Conygar for two-and-a-half years and we are delighted that they have now formally secured a deal for the site. We look forward to working with them to finalise our agreement, whilst maintaining the long-term future of Bristol Rovers Football Club.”
Greg Miller Cheevers, chief executive of Conygar said: “St. Philip’s Marsh and the Fruit Market site hold exciting possibilities that could help to transform this area into something positive for the city. We have been in discussion with Bristol Rovers for a significant time. These discussions between Conygar and the club are meaningful and ongoing and I look forward to continuing to work with Wael and the club to finalise a solution that works for all parties.”
Conygar has a track record in multi-million-pound regeneration schemes.
These schemes include Island Quarter in Nottingham City Centre – a mixed-use scheme for over three million square feet to include new homes, life sciences, grade A office space, creative market, a lifestyle hotel, retail units, student accommodation and associated public realm.
