Cardiff City set for £100m stadium project

Plans have been lodged with Cardiff City Council for new football stadium and leisure facilities at the site of one of the oldest football clubs in the UK.

The £100m scheme will provide, in addition to the new football stadium itself, hospitality areas, club offices, conference, exhibition and banqueting facilities, retail space, a three-star plus hotel and health and fitness club.

Owner of the club, Sam Hammam said: 'Our turnover could rise to between £60m and £90m a year and would be well over £100m if we were in the Champions League. Apart from direct jobs, the money pumped into the local economy could create thousands more jobs.'

Initially, the new stadium, designed by Arup Sport, will seat 30,000 spectators on two tiers and will be capable of being extended by a further 30,000 seats by the addition of a further tier on each of the four sides. The adjacent athletics stadium and training ground, designed by Holder Mathias Architects, will offer athletics facilities as well as the hotel and health and fitness club, retail outlets and car parking.

The scheme is set to be ready for the 2005/6 football season. Details: www.holdermathias.com