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| Cambridge United's new stadium plans shelved | Cambridge United's new stadium plans shelved |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Plans for a new ground for Cambridge United have been shelved, with the club to remain at a redeveloped R Costings Abbey Stadium. | Plans for a new ground for Cambridge United have been shelved, with the club to remain at a redeveloped R Costings Abbey Stadium. |
| The League Two club had hoped to move to a new stadium in the Trumpington area, but failed to receive council backing in 2013. | The League Two club had hoped to move to a new stadium in the Trumpington area, but failed to receive council backing in 2013. |
| Instead, the Abbey will be redeveloped and a new sports village built in Trumpington. | Instead, the Abbey will be redeveloped and a new sports village built in Trumpington. |
| Details of the plans have yet to be announced. | Details of the plans have yet to be announced. |
| The Abbey Stadium is owned by property developer Grosvenor, which wanted to build houses on the current site and develop a new stadium to the south-west of the city. | The Abbey Stadium is owned by property developer Grosvenor, which wanted to build houses on the current site and develop a new stadium to the south-west of the city. |
| However, it now says the current stadium will be redeveloped "with a new focus on community uses", while the new sporting village will be a "vibrant new hub for sports, training, education, health and recreation". | However, it now says the current stadium will be redeveloped "with a new focus on community uses", while the new sporting village will be a "vibrant new hub for sports, training, education, health and recreation". |
| The development in Trumpington will also include housing, it said. | The development in Trumpington will also include housing, it said. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Nick Fairbairn, sports editor BBC Radio Cambridgeshire | |
| There seems to be an acceptance that relocating the club to a brand-new stadium in Trumpington is unrealistic - so a redevelopment of their current home is seen as the best alternative. | There seems to be an acceptance that relocating the club to a brand-new stadium in Trumpington is unrealistic - so a redevelopment of their current home is seen as the best alternative. |
| Grosvenor hopes that proposals for housing and a sporting village in Trumpington, minus a football stadium, will be looked upon more favourably by planners and local residents. | Grosvenor hopes that proposals for housing and a sporting village in Trumpington, minus a football stadium, will be looked upon more favourably by planners and local residents. |
| Interestingly, there is no detail on what a redevelopment of the Abbey would include. | Interestingly, there is no detail on what a redevelopment of the Abbey would include. |
| The stadium has been labelled as not fit for purpose by the club's hierarchy, so a full facelift of the whole ground would doubtless be the ambition from the club's point of view. | The stadium has been labelled as not fit for purpose by the club's hierarchy, so a full facelift of the whole ground would doubtless be the ambition from the club's point of view. |
| The question is, would Grosvenor commit to, and fund, such a big project or does it have a smaller-scale redevelopment in mind? | The question is, would Grosvenor commit to, and fund, such a big project or does it have a smaller-scale redevelopment in mind? |
| Ed Skeates, Grosvenor's director of development, said: "The proposals we are confirming today can provide Cambridge with a variety of widely accessible, inspirational sports facilities and secure the future of CUFC as the city's leading professional sports club." | Ed Skeates, Grosvenor's director of development, said: "The proposals we are confirming today can provide Cambridge with a variety of widely accessible, inspirational sports facilities and secure the future of CUFC as the city's leading professional sports club." |
| The club gained promotion to the Football League through the play-offs last year, and have a glamour tie against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday. | The club gained promotion to the Football League through the play-offs last year, and have a glamour tie against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday. |
| Jez George, chief executive, said the 8,000-capacity stadium needed modernising. | Jez George, chief executive, said the 8,000-capacity stadium needed modernising. |
| "Cambridge United are a progressive club but our stadium is antiquated and unfit for purpose if we are to continue the progression of the last 18 months," he said. | "Cambridge United are a progressive club but our stadium is antiquated and unfit for purpose if we are to continue the progression of the last 18 months," he said. |
| "We need to be able to grow our non-match day income and generate additional revenue on match days so we can grow a sustainable business." | "We need to be able to grow our non-match day income and generate additional revenue on match days so we can grow a sustainable business." |
| The club and Grosvenor said they would consult the public about the plans, before submitting planning applications later in the year. | The club and Grosvenor said they would consult the public about the plans, before submitting planning applications later in the year. |
| Abbey Stadium: A decade of uncertainty | Abbey Stadium: A decade of uncertainty |