QPR chairman Tony Fernandes confident new stadium will be open by 2018

Some great words here:

http://www.london24.com/sport/footb...nt_new_stadium_will_be_open_by_2018_1_3697811

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes remains convinced the club will move into a new 40,000-capacity stadium in Old Oak Common, Willesden, by 2018 despite current tenants Car Giant suggesting otherwise.

Tony Mendes, the managing director of the west London car supermarket, called Rangers’ plans for a new stadium “speculative and presumptuous” as his company would need to be relocated for the project to go ahead.

Mendes has also denied reports of an exclusivity agreement with the club and has warned the proposals “may take significantly longer” than was anticipated.

Fernandes, however, is determined to proceed with the ‘New Queens Park’ project.

He said: “It’s disappointing [to see] some of the press that has come out from Car Giant, but I’ve been through this many times, with airlines and stuff.

“What we are doing is great for the community. I’m not a property developer so I’m not here to make millions and millions of pounds from it.

“I’m here to benefit the 40,000 fans in two ways – one a nice stadium and two we can build some affordable housing.”

QPR made the announcement about their plans for a new stadium in December 2013 after they gained support from all the major bodies required – the Greater London Authority (GLA), relevant local authorities, Network Rail and the influential Genesis Housing Group.

As part of the project, 24,000 new homes are likely to be built.

Malaysian-born Fernandes says his aim is to help the local community as much as possible.

He added: “It is not easy for people to live in London – certainly not easy for people to live in west London.

“Here I have an opportunity, apart from the little community projects we do, to really impact the community. Our thoughts are on creating jobs, affordable living and building economic benefits for west London through exhibition space and leisure activities.

“We want to make that area an arts and crafts and film area. I think our plan is a community plan that will benefit all generations and create something really special for west London – not just for rich Asians to come and live, but something that will really benefit the community.

“We are making great progress and I still believe those dates are achievable.”

Follow me on Twitter @RobBrennan82

 

Already being discussed in existing thread

 

Frankly I don't believe anything he says regarding construction projects anymore. For them moment we have to assume the Harlington 'cancellation' wasn't a bluff. Until a spade's put in the earth, everything should be taken with a big pinch of salt.

 

Thanks neilm831. I hadn't spotted that.

QPR999 or Rollercoaster Ranger can you please merge this thread.

 

No chance. A possibly contested compulsory purchase, design phase, planning application and subsequent appeals and delays, tendering of contractors and a likely 12 month build programme. He's dreaming

 

You meant Warren Farm? Harlington is our current training facility.

 

Woops. The Warren Farm cancellation/Harlington redevelopment

 

You need to remember that Boris wants it and wants it completed by 2018 - which is when Crossrail (which will have its hub close by) will be completed.

 

Who has more clout, Cargiant or the Greater London Assembly?

But even if we owned the land already I think the time scales is a little optimistic.

 

Wubba is the man on this, I'll go with his view.

 

Remind me of a large public/private infrastructure project that finished on time. Wembley? Oh no bad example... and they actually owned the land.

If we cant even get a training facility built through the minefield that is local politics then this contested scheme
will take longer than 3.5 - 4 years.

I'm yet to be convinced there is the budget and political appetite for HS2 yet. Nothing will happen before the general election - Tories will lose too many votes

 

I personally don't think we'll ever get a new stadium. If cargiant hold up the construction for a few years, tony will pull out last minute and say "do we really need one?".

If it seems too good to be true- it probably is.

 

Boris might want it but Boris might not be Mayor by the time a decision on this is made.

Wouldn't be surprised to see nigh on the whole site given over to housing. Developers will easily outbid us for the land the way London property prices are going.

I don't doubt there is a desire to do this but theres a lot of money to be spent and politics to negotiate

Lastly despite what Swiss Tony says, another relegation will put the whole new stadium thing on the back burner again.

 

I think all the Olympic stuff was ok wasn't it?

 

Not really. It finished on time but only because the government signed off a massive overspend to accelerate it all.

 

Ok its the mail but http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159050/London-2012-Olympics-just-6-4bn-budget.html

 

Finish ahead of schedule, but only because of massive overspend !!

So probably that doesnt count.

 

Yes an extra £6.4bn ! from initial budget to ensure it finished on time.

 

Spot-on Wubba, it'll run a 'corridor of uncertainty' straight through Tory heartlands, they can't afford to lose votes in their own backyard...

 

Well not before the election. If the Tories do win outright they will bang on with it but election a year away so all this 2018 'stadium will be ready' talk is just that, talk.