Shortly after CAFC was purchased by RD we heard a lot about how he wanted to build a bigger and better academy. We have seen the plans produced by the Peter Varney team and heard that RD has put his influnce on the plans and enlarged the project. At the beginning of the year we were told that the club would apply for a Catagory One Academy in two years. Building an academy takes time and for some time there seems to have been no progress.
Anyone got any ideas on what is happening with the plans and the project?
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http://publicaccess.royalgreenwich.gov.uk:81/online-applications/files/7F2B70155BF53EE5F3CAEC2E36962138/pdf/14_0276_F-Decision_Notice-251920.pdf
http://publicaccess.royalgreenwich.gov.uk:81/online-applications/files/7F2B70155BF53EE5F3CAEC2E36962138/pdf/14_0276_F-Decision_Notice-251920.pdf
The correspondence contained in the pdf that you just emailed, which was willingly provided by the Council to a Mr Rick Everitt as part of the FOI process, simply relates to the further aspirations of Charlton Athletic who are seeking to discuss some changes to their proposals that received planning permission earlier this year and upon which you kindly provided your observations before their planning application was considered by the Council’s Planning Board.
As the colleague of mine that you spoke to earlier today was briefed to advise you in respect of Charlton Athletic Training Ground:
· No existing planning permission has been amended;
· No new planning permission has been granted; and
· No new planning application has been submitted (which would, naturally, trigger our processes to notify local people).
I hope my comments are of assistance and clarify the position.
. I did request a meeting with Mr Gittens, who despite my several phone calls seems unable to respond to a meeting.
. I had in fact turned up at the contact centre, to view the plans, but you have to make an appointment.
. I have requested that I am updated on any plans for the training ground, as well as the valley.
. I will be following this up with a further enquiry after Christmas, and if need be putting in a FOI request myself if Mr Gittens does not contact myself before hand. That is of course if Airman has not already done a follow up?
These are public documents, and I was quite surprised that you had to make an appointment to view planning applications?. They citied a lack of resources....and Mr Gittens was in a meeting?
I think that it is a bit harsh on RD and KM to say "nothing" has been achieved regarding the academy rebuild.
We have planning permission and have applied for revised planning permission for an expanded building.
Part of the funding is now in place from the Football Foundation (although that comes via the Community Trust) not from the club.
I agree that it is frustrating that no further progress APPEARS to have taken place especially as like you I think this is one of the most important aspects of developing the club long term.
It would certainly be good to get an update from KM or even from Steve Avory when he visits Eltham Addicks.
Is that response from before the new application or in reference to a different thing entirely and I'm miss reading it?
Ignore, Henry replied just before posting. He's that good.
I made the mistake of confusing the two stages.
It would not be unusual for the application to be revised, a development of this nature is bound to have 'details' to discuss. It is also a joint application with the Community trust, and CAFC and is being partly funded by the football foundation. I had heard a figure..... but that would not be confirmed by Rory Caroll, in any form from the football foundation ( press office). It has been known that a 'start notice' might have been lodged, but as I say I was unable to get any details. The latter being the reason for the original enquiry.......
I was following up your story. I did remind RBG that the trust holds the nominated body for the ACV in regard to the Valley, and in fact the Director overseeing that department, who is also the deputy chief executive of RBG council was the officer who oversaw the ACV process. This was because the then leader of the council asked to refer this back to the cabinet, after the consultation period?
I had in fact been dealing with another officer who covered the valley, but made it quite clear in emails that we would like to be updated on the Sparrows Lane training ground application. To date I heard nothing about the Valley, or Sparrows Lane, except this email, since the ACV.
Personally I think it was the intervention of the two local MP's, whose support, and the ward councillors that got the process through when it did. I have never made a FOI request in my life, but in the case of RBG and Sparrows Lane I might make an exception.
When the club announce they have appointed architects and a new project manager then we will know things are moving. The size of the scheme and the calibre of the project management will give us all insight into the vision and ambition of Staprix.
As the assumption is that a revised plan is being negotiated then it is logical to presume that there are architects and professional project management on the case.
My guess is that the new scheme might be at least double that of the original.
Why?
Because they can!
Because M.Duchatelet only gets to do this once so I expect he will want to do it properly.
As wise man once paraphrased an old saying to, 'if it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly'.
I agree, badly rather than not at all.
If I mess up cooking the dinner, I don't bin it, I try to salvage it as best I can.