Plans For Tesco At Fratton Park On Show

5 July 2013, 07:15 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

There is a chance to have your say on plans for a massive Tesco store in Portsmouth behind Fratton Park.

It would be built behind the Fratton End and the football club says, if approved, it will give them a substantial sum to fund and start long-overdue work on improving the stadium.

Point Estates, the company of the club's strategic property partner Stuart Robinson, is proposing to build a 5,500 square metre store on the land adjacent to Fratton Way.

People will get the chance to have their say on the scheme at a consultation event today (Friday 5 July) from 10am-6pm and Saturday 6 July (10am-3pm) in the Victory Rooms where the plans will be on show.

Portsmouth FC Chairman Iain McInnes said:

"We are fully behind this scheme. If the development gets planning consent the club will receive substantial financial investment.

"In the short-term, some of that money will enable us to address a back-log of legacy planned maintenance and safety issues with Fratton Park, to ensure it is fully operational next season.

"We are also looking at some other improvements to make the match-day experience inside and outside the ground much better, particularly providing more comfortable and befitting facilities for disabled supporters.

"The majority of the money we receive however will be put into a ring-fenced account to be used to help kick-start our fund for improvements to the stadium. The club is well aware of the need to improve the Stadium's facilities if we are to
 fulfil our potential as a club.

"In the next 12 months we will separately be undertaking a feasibility study to explore ways we can finance a phased re-development of Fratton Park. This is a project of the highest priority for the Board and the fans.

"To achieve it will require realistic, measurable timescales, communicated effectively and aggressively pursued. The money we will receive from Point Estates will give us a solid platform for the short term improvements and to begin the search for other sources of funding to finally deliver the improved facilities our fans deserve."

The club says the immediate benefits of the proposal would include:

- Car and coach parking on land adjacent to the North Stand, via Anson Road;

- Dedicated Media Area for TV vehicles and journalists;

- New pedestrian access to the Club via Fratton Way and Anson Road;

- Improved facilities for disabled fans.