£38m stadium development faces delays
DEVELOPMENT plans for the Headingley Carnegie Stadium have been delayed, leading the Yorkshire County Cricket Club to warn that the Leeds venue could lose international cricket for years.
Leeds Rhinos said that a decision had been made to delay the £38m redevelopment.
The YCCC has now voiced concerns that this could mean games during the 2019 World Cup and Test matches between 2020 and 2024 would not take place at Headingley.
Demolition work was due to begin in January 2017 but the plans have now had to be put back, with developers blaming the time it took to obtain the correct planning permissions.
It said the hoped-for early release of two sites by Leeds Rhinos have been affected by “complex planning matters”.
Yorkshire County Cricket Club chief executive, Mark Arthur said: “The 2020-2024 major matches will be allocated in the summer of 2017, therefore this delay could mean that Headingley will no longer be considered fit for Test Match cricket – or to host any World Cup matches in 2019.
“Not only does this delay impact the Club’s ability to stage Internationals, it would also have profound consequences to both Yorkshire’s and Leeds Rhinos’ valuable and long-standing work within the wider community. To continue the vast amount of work within the Leeds area, the Club is dependent on retaining International cricket.”
The South Stand and shared Main Stand were due to undergo redevelopment.
Chief executive of Leeds Rhinos Gary Hetherington said: “We are deeply disappointed that we have been unable thus far to deliver the project on time.
“The funding package for the whole stadium development involves investment from both ourselves and Yorkshire CCC, and support from both Leeds City Council and other public bodies. The sale of historical land assets completes the funding of the scheme leaving the clubs in a stable long term financial position.
“Naturally a project of this magnitude has unique challenges and unfortunately we have not been able to conclude some of those to allow us to begin work on the South Stand. We appreciate the support from the council to date but we recognise the distinction and integrity of the planning process.”
