Thursday 20 November 2014 09:28, UK
Tony Fernandes insists Queens Park Rangers must move from their Loftus Road home if they are to become a permanent fixture in the Premier League.
R's chairman Fernandes believes relocating to a new 40,000 seat, multi-purpose stadium approximately three miles away at Old Oak Common, would allow the club to fully develop their potential and presents the "only realistic place for us to move".
However the club have yet to reach an agreement to purchase the land required with local motor dealership Car Giant also determined to redevelop the same site.
Fernandes said: "We need to move on from Loftus Road if we are to sustain a top-flight football club and Old Oak Common is the only realistic place for us to move.
"(It is) close to our fans and our roots, with great transport links, and the opportunity to be at the heart of the most exciting new development in west London for years."
(It is) close to our fans and our roots, with great transport links, and the opportunity to be at the heart of the most exciting new development in west London for years
QPR say their findings have been favourable, with 88 per cent supporting Old Oak as the location for the Hoops' new stadium.
"We are delighted that so many of our fans and members of the local community share our vision for the future of both QPR and Old Oak," Fernandes added. "This is only the first stage of consultation and we will continue to work with the community as we develop our plans in more detail.
"Old Oak is the biggest regeneration since the Olympics and we have a responsibility to future generations to get it right.
"We need a comprehensive planned approach with a stadium as its beating heart, led by a football club with a stronger interest in the local community than any other kind of business."
The managing director of Car Giant, Tony Mendes, meanwhile, believes his company's own proposals are best suited to the site.
"The plans of Old Oak Park will bring a new and vibrant destination to London with large public open spaces, new schools, waterside recreational areas, thousands of affordable homes for the local community and thousands of new jobs," Mendes said.
"We are making good progress and our public consultation will begin soon asking for community input to assure the regeneration can bring what the residents would like within this exciting new development.
"Our design plans will be based around quality and sustainable open spaces and buildings, and will include an upgrade of the rundown Grand Union Canal. The team looks forward to working with the statutory authorities and the local residents to bring the regeneration plans to life.
"In establishing Old Oak Park Ltd, Car Giant is progressing plans for outline planning permission and has started conducting site surveys.
"We have a firm and compelling vision for Old Oak Common."
