The Foundation have written to the new Chinese owners of Udney Park. The owner is an investment fund run by a Mr Wu. The company name is Leisure Focus and they are based in the British Virgin Islands.
A copy of the Foundation’s latest correspondence with the owners solicitors is as below.
By way of follow-up – I have read your email in a bit more detail over the weekend, and would offer a couple more observations.
I note that you state that ‘it is not their (Leisure Focus) intention to redevelop the site in the way that was proposed previously’. This does imply some level of redevelopment at Udney park and to me this would seem to go against all planning guidelines for the site.
I previously looked at a commercial sporting use with a couple of professional sports clubs, but the restrictions on floodlights, artificial pitch surfacing, any changes to the built environment, and car parking restrictions caused me to abandon these ideas.
I also proposed a modest redevelopment on less than a acre of the fields to provide the GDV which would allow me to get to the £3m that AHH aspired to sell at. Again I was given no encouragement by council officers or councillors that this would be acceptable. The position was set out very clearly by LBRUT in the attached letter dated 21st July 2021 which Savills distributed to all potential buyers.
I note that Leisure Focus is an investment fund, so presumably the investors will be seeking a return. I also note that circa £3m has been paid for the site which is several times playing field value.
Bearing all of this in mind I would appreciate a candid conversation on exactly what is proposed.
It would seem that if you are seeking to break the impasse that has stretched back over 7 years, then early dialogue would most definitely be helpful. I would suggest that my Charity has the widest support possible, and that this engagement should start as early as possible in order to diffuse obvious concerns. I would be happy to have this meeting in conjunction with our local MP, councillors and council officers, or alternatively I am happy to meet with you separately. You mention a meeting in the next few weeks and so I will await a suggested timing and venue.
Incidentally please note that the Foundation is separate from all the Trust which was set up to fight the original planning proposals. The sole purpose of the Foundation is to preserve Udney Park for the playing of community sport in perpetuity – as was envisaged when it was established 100 years ago as a War Memorial site. Whether this can sit alongside Mr Wu’s ambitions for Udney Park, I will be happy to explore.
Subsequent to this letter being sent a mid September meeting has been proposed. Hopefully this meeting will provide clarity on what Mr Wu plans for Udney Park.
Political momentum for a CPO growing
The Udney Park Trust have released a ‘press release’ updating everyone on the momentum gathering for a CPO of the fields at Udney Park. Local hustings were held as a prelude to this week’s general election and the Trust raised a question regarding the future of the site. It was confirmed at the hustings that there was universal support for a CPO from all parties.
The tragedy of the War Memorial Pavilion has been revealed by arial photos taken by residents. These reveal that under the ownership of Mr Wu the building has fallen into such disrepair as to render future renovation work hugely expensive. The project had been to bring the changing rooms back into early use for the community clubs playing on these fields. There were relatively new boilers and heating systems installed just before Imperial College sold the site. The building interior had been dry – even if the changing rooms needed to be brought up to modern standards.
It is hugely disappointing to report that Udney park is now under offer from another group of investors headed up by local resident, Keith Williams.
Udney Park is an Asset of Community Value, defined in the Localism Act (2011) as "Land is an asset of community value if its main use is to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community." The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests
