Sports Stadiums

Sports projects bring particular challenges. Sports stadiums do much more these days than provide for sports events. Sport is for all. Stadiums provide opportunities for community involvement in sport, as well as elite athletes. Stadiums also double as places for major events from rock bands to community events. For governments they are major political commitments, and everyone therefore has an opinion about sports stadiums for better or worse.

Sports stadiums in the last 15 years have become a vehicle for promoting the urban regeneration of whole areas, and can enliven urban precincts that previously have lost their purpose. The localised impacts on their communities can nevertheless be a major concern.

Whatever their scale, the challenges of sports stadiums are unique and key roles to successful development are experienced project direction, analysing the project impacts and inegotiating planning approval. Brian has extensive practical experience of successful sports stadium projects.

Perry Lakes Regional Sports Precinct

Brian is retained by the Department of Sports and Recreation as project consultant to advise on the Perry Lakes redevelopment. This complex redevelopment project is guided by its own legislation (Perry Lakes Redevelopment Act, 2005) and involves the development of a new basketball centre, athletics stadium and rugby stadium on land at AK Reserve adjoining Challenge Stadium to create a sports excellence precinct. The project involves complex environmental issues (Bush Forever, and contaminated land), developing a partnership with the University of Western Australia, liaison with peak sporting agencies, close working with Landcorp, site acquisition and reporting to the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. Brian has had two roles – one as Project Consultant advising on all aspects of the AK Reserve project, and secondly as the Project Planner responsible in particular for obtaining the necessary planning and environmental approvals. Brian prepared and has had approved a Redevelopment Plan for the Sports Precinct, and recently obtained development approval for the North West Precinct containing the basketball and athletics stadiums. This part of the project has been tendered and in currently under construction. Planning is progressing on the rugby stadium.

East Manchester Commonwealth Games Site, UK:

Brian was centrally involved in turning a large area of blighted former industrial land in East Manchester into a najor sport project as part of an urban regeneration project. A key element of this was a sport stadium for use by Manchester City Football Club, together with a velodrome. The project then become the centerpiece of the City's bid for the Olympic Games. Whilst unsuccessful, the City then was successful in winning the bid for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Brian floated the original concepts, organised the land owners, and chaired a committee to launch the major urban regeneration project, including proposals for a new stadium, velodrome, retail and mixed use development. He then secured government funding from English Partnerships and worked closely with the city Council to realise the project.

Aintree Racecourse

Brian was the principal adviser to the Trustees of the Aintree Racecourse when they found that their main stand was heritage listed and they could not expand the capacity to meet the demand, particularly for the annual Grand National race. Brian assembled and led a consultant team that prepared planning and market appraisals, that culminated in a development strategy to dispose of surplus car parking land for retaqil development, which in turn would fund the development of a new stand. Brian led negotiations with English Heritage and the planning authorities that successfully allowed the front of the old stand to be retained, with the development of new facilities to the rear. As part of this work Brian organised and facilitated at two public workshops to discuss these controversial proposals. The strategy has since been successfully realised and implemented.

Minister for Sport makes a media announcement on an AK Reserve project milestone

The AK Reserve project at Perry Lakes will establish one of the most significant new sports precinct in the country

East Manchester's new Sports Stadium as part of an urban regeneration project

Aintree Racrecourse is an iconic and historic racecourse known for its staging of the Grand National horserace