Old Oak plan ‘speculative & presumptuous’
QPR’s plan to build a new stadium at Old Oak is “speculative and presumptuous” according to the managing director of Cargiant, the west London-based car supermarket which must be relocated for the project to go ahead.
Rangers want to build a sports arena as part of a Canary Wharf-style regeneration of the area, which has long been the ambition of the club’s Malaysian owners.
But Tony Mendes, whose company owns 45 acres of the proposed site, has denied reports of an exclusivity agreement with QPR and also warned that the proposals “may take significantly longer” to become reality than anticipated.
Mendes said: “We have been made aware of recent press reports regarding the regeneration of Old Oak Common, the site on which Cargiant sits.
“Many of these reports, particularly those referring to the prospective relocation of Cargiant, are inaccurate and as a result we wish to clarify a number of issues.
“The regeneration of Old Oak Common and in particular the land owned by Car Giant Ltd is a complex issue and may take significantly longer to finalise than some parties are anticipating.
“Schemes that have been announced for this part of Old Oak Common, including a new stadium for QPR, are speculative and presumptuous.
“Cargiant has not entered into any exclusivity agreement with QPR and remains totally unattached to any party in regards to the regeneration of the area or relocation site.
“The regeneration plans are dependent on the relocation of Cargiant, which will be a significant undertaking.
“Cargiant is the largest business of its kind in the world. We have been located on our current site for 30 years and with over 750 local employees working across 45 acres, we play a vital part in the local community, both socially and economically.”
Cargiant, who sponsored QPR’s shirts for the 2006-07 season, say the company is working with a team of experts to draw up its own regeneration proposals
Mendes added: “The company has worked progressively with the GLA, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the neighbouring local authorities in order to identify a workable local relocation site.
“To date no progress has been made in this regard but Cargiant are committed to continued dialogue with the GLA and local councils in order to meet this objective.”
QPR confirmed their proposed relocation to Old Oak in December and initially hoped to move to the new site by 2018.
They made the announcement after receiving support from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the relevant local authorities of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.
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Old Oak Common Regeneration: Super transport hub and Mini-Manhattan?
10/11/2016 @ 4:48 pm
[…] largest occupiers in the area, Car Giant, are having to be relocated due to the project and their managing director called QPR’s plans for a new stadium by 2018 speculative and presumptuous, while current residents have expressed concerns about the area losing its history and expensive new […]
28/06/2014 @ 10:59 pm
Cargiant were unceremoniously dropped by QPR as shirt sponsors when Flavio Briatore took over the running of the club claiming that they were still welcome at Loftus Road if they bought a season ticket….
The regeneration of the area is being conducted by local and national government and the relocation of Cargiant would be something that the authorities would have to deal with and not QPR.
28/06/2014 @ 3:51 pm
If car giant want to have a row,what about the money they owed on the sponsership of qpr.
27/06/2014 @ 4:49 pm
Car Giant trying to up re location costs – there’s a shock!