Cargiant invest £15 million into Old Oak Common site planning

[W12_Ranger]

I can't understand why so many of our fans don't take Cargiant seriously. They own the land and want to develop it, they employ a lot of people and will create more jobs with their development plans. Fernandes is full of hot air, I'm very confident we will be playing at Loftus Road come 2020 let alone moving in 2018.

[Hitman34]

New artical in todays standard............




Queens Park Rangers has come up against a formidable opponent in the pugnacious shape of Geoff Warren.

He is the owner of 47 acres of land at Old Oak Common, used by his car sales company Cargiant.

QPR wants to embed a stadium within 10,000 new homes Warren plans on the land. A lot has been heard from the club since it unilaterally announced its intentions last December. Nothing has been heard from Warren directly, until today. It’s no deal.

“We own the land,” says Warren. “We are going to develop it. The stadium is just not going to happen. We’ve looked at all the options. I’ve spoken to experts like Tony Pidgley of Berkeley. They all say the same, ‘don’t build a stadium’. It’s simply not viable. Its presence slows down sales.

“I’m not saying all this because we want to build up the price. I’m rich enough not to need their money. I’m not interested in having a stadium. Would you want to live in a stadium environment?

"We are making very good progress with the planning application. I’ve committed £15 million to the process. The application will be submitted next September.”

Well, that’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Warren set up Cargiant in 1977 on the three-acre site of an old Rolls-Royce factory at Old Oak Common. The 59-year-old has acquired another 44 acres of land over the years. The company stores 6000 cars and sells more than 1000 a week. Warren owns the business. The Sunday Times puts his wealth at £220 million — so he’s not a man in need of football money.

QPR remains undeterred, despite losing £66 million last year and having a horror-story balance sheet. Work on its application continues. “Funding is in place to acquire the relevant land holdings,” said a spokesman. “QPR has entered into exclusivity arrangements with Network Rail and other landowners. The stadium will bring a ‘beating heart’ to the area.”

Over Warren’s prostrate body. He has engaged architects PLP, housing specialist First Base and developer Sir Stuart Lipton, the man who drew up plans for a new town at Stratford before the Olympics came to town. “Old Oak has the potential to become the Stratford of the west. But a football stadium on Cargiant’s land will not make it a friendly place.”

Where else at Old Oak seems now to be the issue for QPR chairman Tony Fernandes and his Asian backers. A 30-year plan for the whole 380 acres was drawn up last year. It includes a vast rail nexus bringing together Crossrail and HS2 stations. These are surrounded by office towers, graduating down into estates containing 19,000 homes.

The plan is prepared by Sir Terry Farrell, now advising QPR. Fernandes has also hired Olympic stadium designer Populous and planner Savills.

Given Warren’s stance, it surely cannot be beyond the wit of the trio to figure out where else on Old Oak Common the stadium might rest? After all, the Cargiant owner only owns a tiddly 47 acres out of the whole 380.

[fisnik]

"The application will be submitted next September."

One year to submit the plans? Dare I say it should be sorted one way or another by then.

[NW_Hoopz]

Somebody wants to tell Geoff Warren they don't want it for the football stadium ......... Once he 'understands' the importance of a 40k music arena he'll surely change his mind PDQ !

[andover66]

Fernandes and co will put the club up for sale as soon as we are back in the Championship, Fernanandes is very successful in dealing with the Asians in the airline business but crap at everything else, F1 is a good example.

[fisnik]

Fernandes and co will put the club up for sale as soon as we are back in the Championship, Fernanandes is very successful in dealing with the Asians in the airline business but crap at everything else, F1 is a good example.

Not for another 20 years then?