Consultation Begins
ARGYLE supporters and the general public have their first chance to see the latest plans for the Mayflower grandstand redevelopment and associated developments at Home Park this weekend.
Argyle and Akkeron Group begin a public consultation on Friday, when people will be able to study up-to-the-minute designs, as well as speak to professionals leading the project.
The public consultation begins at 1pm on Friday, a few hours before Argyle’s Home Park pre-season friendly against Championship side Cardiff City.
Plans will be on display in the Players' Lounge until 4pm, while project director Tony Hopwood and architect Richard Cord will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the plans.
The consultation – in support of the club’s forthcoming submission of a planning application for the project – reopens at 10am on Saturday, July 22 and runs until 1.45pm.
The planning application will include both the new Grandstand redevelopment and wider development on sites adjacent to Home Park, which will include an ice-rink.
Argyle chairman James Brent said: "What we’re presenting over the next couple of days are full plans, not just for the grandstand but setting that in the context of Higher Home Park and an additional piece of land that we that we have agreed, subject to planning, so people will be able to see the total picture.
"The grandstand is clearly the core feature within it, but it also includes the proposed new ice-rink for Plymouth, which, in its own right, is very exciting because it will give us the only ice-rink west of Cardiff; and it will give those wonderful ice-skaters of all ages who’ve been practicing for so long to play a competitive match with an international standard ice-rink to play on.
"The additional piece of land is the old vets site which runs alongside the front of the Life Centre, so there is a commercial development plan for that site, including a new vet practice.
"There will be lots of plans, lots of pictures and I'm really keen to take lots of questions. I’m hoping to spend a bit of time on Saturday with the consultation, being able to answer questions myself, personally, as well. I'm very much looking forward to it."
The Mayflower grandstand plans reflect a long process of discussion, including with a working group comprising Argyle supporters.
James said: "Clearly we’re operating within a budget, as everyone will understand, and if we had a higher budget, we would no doubt have even better facilities
"But, within the budget, I think we’ve got a really good solution and it does create the balance that we sought to achieve from day one of preserving the history of Argyle and respecting the history of Home Park in terms of the facade, the shape of the Leitch building, and so on. But, at the same time, providing modern facilities that families, and supporters generally, deserve in the 21st century."
Following the consultation process, at 2pm, the Argyle Board of Directors are staging a Fans’ Forum at the ground, during which the Green Army can quiz the Pilgrims’ hierarchy on the grandstand and other club issues.
For supporters who cannot make the forum, the club is planning to make it a Facebook Live event on facebook.com/plymouthargylefc.
TIMETABLE
Friday, July 21
1-4pm: Public Consultation, Players' Lounge
Saturday, July 22
10am-1.45pm: Public Consultation, Players' Lounge
2-3pm: Fans’ Forum, Green Taverners’ Suite