New Ninian On the Way

New Ground Approval
By Chris O'Brien
January 26 2005

I've tended to avoid the ongoing saga of the new ground, but finally some significant news for the club. Cardiff City have been granted full planning approval for a new ground at the Leckwith site opposite Ninian Park.

Since setting up this web-site back in 2002, I have tended to avoid the subject of the new ground. To be rather frank, the whole thing bores me slightly and the constant droning of the band-wagon jumping supporters every time another sketch of a 30,000 all-seater stadium is paraded around Ninian Park has quickly become one of my pet hates!

Hammam arrived in South Wales in 2000 after selling Wimbledon up the river, and has harped on about a new ground for Cardiff City ever since. Don't get me wrong, Hammam has changed the face of the Bluebirds, but the hype and stadium-itus picked up by many supporters is rather annoying. Clubs can play in the Premiership without a spaceship for a ground, and a spaceship for a ground doesn't guarantee top flight success. Just ask Darlington.

However, even I raised a smile when planning approval for a new Cardiff City ground was granted by the Council. I've avoided the technicalities, though some supporters can quote to you ever company interested in the retail park since planning started or can tell you the exact inside measurement of proposed blue seats. Personally I've been concentrating on matters on the pitch. Still, for the record, the retail planning applications for Costco, Matalan and Asda Living were all approved. The fourth application, Boots, has been withdrawn.

The next hurdle for the club is to produce a business plan that will need approving. With our dire financial state, there will undoubtedly be a few more nervy moments to come but things do look on track for work to start within the year. Hammam, loyal as he is to the club, has made no secret that if this planning approval was rejected he would walk and leave the club with a whopping debt and the threat of administration and bankruptcy. This now looks unlikely - a huge relief for all season ticket holders and fans alike of Cardiff City.

The new ground, which I would imagine will be called the St.David's rather than my preferred choice of New Ninian, will have an all-seater capacity of roughly 30,000 after completion. Designs have shown a rounded dome shape for the stadium rather than four separate stands, and there will be the possibility to expand the capacity yet further. Judging my recent attendances, this won't be needed for a long while yet, but there is no doubt that full planning approval is great news for CCFC.