They'll approve it, there's no doubt.

But then they won't get the funding, or they won't find a taker (or get planning permission) for the sports retail element, so they'll have to scrap it as it would be necessary to support the scheme etc etc, maybe it will be put "on hold" due to the current financial climate, who knows what the reasoning will be.

I won't be proceding on the basis of any more optimistic a position than the one you describe.

However, I'm interested in the input and the processes. Given the despair about everything to do with Bradford Council's activities, I'm interested to get a window on just how things are done (or not done). Thus I'm pleased to have the input from someonewho knows his way about.

It will help, come the revolution.

Both options look pretty good and obviously in the mold of the Leigh Sporting Village.

I could have sworn the impression in the T&A was that the preferred option included rotating the pitch? That doesnt look to be the case in the report.

Something akin to Leigh Sports Village at Odsal would be very good, although I've not seen a game at LSV I've had a tour around the stadium and its a brilliant facility.

Thing with LSV though, is that the commercial element of the scheme such as the commercial development on the stadium site and retail development on Leigh East's former pitch has still not gone ahead.

An 80k sq ft 'sports retail' unit sounds ridiculous though, thats like the size of a big Tesco/Asda. Also the size of that amount of retail would make the planning case hard to make, although these might be outweighed if it is shown that the OSV is an all singing, all dancing regeneration scheme.

It wouldnt suprise me if the retail element ends up being smaller units similar to Forster Square.

I agree that £18.5m income from Sports Retail & Sponsorship sounds optimistic - that's quite a bit for any company to pay for a sports retail store especially when they can't fill Westfield in the current climate. I would presume the majority would be expected from sponsorship of the OSV over a significant period.

I would say there are a few more worrying elements in the report, not least "Both estimates are exclusive of VAT. However, VAT will be applicable to elements of the capital build programme and further detailed consideration will need to be given to this aspect of the project. As a worst case, based on the anticipated VAT rate applicable at the time of construction, the cost of the compliant scheme could raise by 17.5% to £88,712,500. At this rate the Option 1 scheme costs would rise to
£65,447,500."[/i

... followed by "It should also be noted that the construction programme has not been tested with the construction industry and there is an assumption of a non-complex construction activity. As the designs develop and more information is known about the project, this programme might change."[/i

... and Planning permission will ultimately be required for the preferred option. The application will relate to a significant proposal and will require the submission of a considerable number of specialist studies and other supporting documents ...<snipped>....... Notwithstanding this, the suggested opening of the entire facility by 2012 remains ambitious."[/i

They're not insurmountable but there are still a lot of "don't knows" included and it's f*cking ambitious to expect there to be no hiccups.

How many "Sports Retail" companies are there ? and would they really want to be sited next to each other ? Accepted that Sportsworld and JD are at Forster Square but JJB is closing down.

THe JJB store at Forster square is now just a discontinued stock store.

Although it states Sports Retail, im not sure its limited to that.

Although in the current climate it would be difficult to get tenants, it could well be very different in 3 years. For me odsal is a pretty accessible site that in a decent market the likes of Argos, Comment, Boots, HMV, Next etc etc.. could well be interested in.

Im assuming it will be developed out by the Council and then sold to a pension fund/developer/fund manger etc..

I would expect that the Council would not want anything at all that may compete with Bradford city centre, which as far as retail is concerned is pretty fragile.

Planning policy is geared towards maintaining/enhancing the retail clout of town centres, so it is likely that the Council would put conditions on the planning consent, that only a certain type of goods could be sold from the site, hence the sports retail.

Retail planning, like the last scheme at Odsal, could be the major downfall of this one!

rl75 Million it is then.rl

If it's delivered by 2012 I will eat Bullseye's regurgitated hat.

All seater . Well, if it does happen it will benefit the club majorly.

I'll give 30 odd million when I win the euromillions on Friday night

Although it has to become the Paul124897 stadium if that happens!

Bit of a misleading title£75m Odsal option given green light[/i