Crystal Palace FC is expecting to begin a long-awaited stadium expansion at the end of next year.

The 8,000-seat extension to the Main Stand at Selhurst Park, which would see the ground’s total capacity reach 34,000, is moving forward as the club is ready to purchase six nearby properties from Croydon Council, which are crucial to the job.

A report published this week by My London suggests the expansion has been held back by a section 106 agreement, which is now set to be signed at the end of this year. The section 106 will set the level of the club’s contribution to local community and infrastructure projects, and needs to be agreed before the houses can be purchased.

The club is also in discussion with Sainsbury’s over the purchase of land from a nearby supermarket.

Crystal Palace got the go-ahead for the expansion – expected to be worth between £75m and £100m – in 2018, with the Premier League club set to replace the six affordable homes, which it will demolish, with six new residential units, five of which will be purchased by the council.

Residents also need to be given 12 months’ notice to move out of their houses. Initially, the club had expected the newly expanded stadium to be ready for the beginning of the 2021/22 football season, which started in August.

Crystal Palace is also set to develop 550 square metres of restaurant and retail space as part of the job, and will extend the pitch by around four metres, to give it the dimensions needed to host international matches.

A spokesperson for the club said it was always clear that a section 106 agreement would be needed before the expansion plans could proceed, and that the club had instead decided to focus on a project to expand its academy buildings, which opened last month. The focus is now on the stadium expansion, they added. A main contractor has yet to be announced.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We are actively engaged with the owners of Crystal Palace FC. We’re listening to their concerns and have shared a proposal, which we believe presents a favourable and logical way forward. We have always been happy to progress the sale of the land at a fair market value.”

Liverpool’s £60m plan to expand its Anfield Road stand was approved by Liverpool City Council in June. Buckingham Group is set to deliver the job.

Liverpool is joined by city rival Everton FC, which got the green light for its new £505m stadium in March. Laing O’Rourke is the main contractor for the build on Bramley-Moore Dock, and it expects to complete construction in 2024.

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has linked up with ITN Productions Industry News to announce its ‘Building a Greener Britain’ programme as its contribution to deliver a zero-carbon built environment at COP26. This partnership programme explores the cutting edge sustainable methods the sector is adopting. This is presented through the lens of the CLC’s industry-change Construct Zero programme, which is the campaign to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry, in response to the climate emergency.  

Anchored by presenter Clare Nasir, Building A Greener Britain, features interviews with industry experts and informative news items looking at how the construction sector is going ‘green’.

The full video which features supporting partners Arcadis, Innovate UK, Rider Levett Bucknall and Saint-Gobain will be premiered at 9:30am, Thursday 11 November, on the COP26 YouTube channel, and available at the same time on the CLC website.

Andy Mitchell CBE, Co-Chair, CLC, said: “The Construction Leadership Council brings together representatives from across the construction sector, from sole traders to major contractors and in this video, that will launch at COP26, we’re addressing the biggest challenge which is climate change. Construct Zero sets out an action plan and headline metrics against which the construction industry can collectively measure and monitor its progress to net zero on a quarterly basis. We are also showcasing business champions in our sector who are doing great work in reducing carbon emissions”

Nina Harrison-Bell, Head of ITN Productions Industry News said: “We are delighted launch our programme with CLC that explores the innovative range of new methods and initiatives the construction industry is introducing and developing as it makes the move towards a net zero future. We hope the content will be used to support the CLC’s Construct Zero programme and show the immediate need for action.”

Netherlands-based football club Feyenoord has scrapped plans for a new stadium in Rotterdam, after cost estimates from the project developer BAM soared.

The Feyenoord City project, which included a new 63,000 capacity stadium on the banks of the River Nieuwe Maas as well as shops and houses, was originally projected to cost £385M, but BAM informed the club that the price would be significantly increased. This is due not only to increasing building costs, but BAM’s new direction for the project, which will see the price reach at least £425M.

The construction company also recently announced a new policy by with they will withdraw from any projects they consider to be risky.

An official announcement is yet to be made by either Feyenoord or BAM, but sources close to the club say they are outraged at the developer’s new proposals and will cancel the project. This is inevitable, especially considering its financial situation.

Local sports journalist Arno Vermeulen has said that “Feyenoord is financially on the edge of an abyss”. The club is already £8.5M in tax debt and faces the repayment of a £25M bridging loan to Goldman Sachs if the new stadium plan does not go ahead. Feyenoord’s current stadium De Kuip is on the line as collateral should they fail to make payments.

Fans of Feyenoord will be in quandary. They opposed the building of the new stadium, preferring to stay in the beloved De Kuip. However, it could soon be owned by the American firm.

If the club manages to keep hold of the stadium, it will look to expand it in lieu of a whole new project. This in itself is likely to cost around £200M, and will mean reduced capacity – and income – while the stadium expansion project is undertaken.

BY ROB HAKIMIAN

Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi has expressed confidence over the construction of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of its debut event.

Formula 1 is due to visit Jeddah on December 3-5 for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the penultimate round on this year’s 22-event calendar. A 6km 27-turn quasi street circuit, which is set to be among the fastest on the schedule, is being developed on Jeddah’s Corniche adjacent to the Red Sea.

Photos and videos that emerged from a recent preview segment carried out by Formula 1’s broadcast team highlighted the work that is still required. But Masi has asserted that everything will be ready in time for the circuit’s debut at the start of next month. “There is a lot going on there,” said Masi at the Mexico City Grand Prix. “There is a huge amount of work happening.

“The FIA and F1 are getting daily updates of where things are at, and it’s progressing very, very quickly. “Yes, there’s a lot to do – there’s nothing to deny there, I think everyone will acknowledge there’s a lot to do – but I’m still confident of the race going ahead, no problems.” Masi pointed to previous circuit builds in conceding that “there’s always an element of worry with everything” but outlined that “having been involved [with] Korea in 2010, and I think India was talked about, [and] both of those went off with no problems, I’m quite confident Saudi will be exactly the same.”

Masi is due to make another visit to Jeddah ahead of its inaugural grand prix, either shortly before or after the preceding event in Qatar. “There are areas absolutely complete [and] the quality of work is first class,” Masi asserted. “They will finish, I have confidence. Given that the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is being built in record time, it was always the case that timings would be tight. Construction remains on schedule and will be completed on time ahead of F1’s arrival next month,” said Saudi Arabian GP CEO Martin Whitaker in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has a 10-year contract to host Formula 1 races and next year’s event, set to be held in late March, will also take place at Jeddah. Long-term the plan remains to move the event to the Qiddiya entertainment facility under construction on the outskirts of capital Riyadh. The Jeddah circuit will then form part of the Corniche’s regeneration that includes sustainability and environmental projects, along with recreational areas for residents.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Arup have been awarded an extension to deliver the remaining term of the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance (ISA) contract by Sellafield Ltd. The ISA is an alliance between Sellafield Ltd, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Arup that delivers a programme of infrastructure projects for Sellafield’s aging asset portfolio.

The ISA is one of several long-term strategic supply agreements aligned to the Sellafield acquisition strategy. Initially awarded in 2012, the ISA is responsible for a £1.1bn contract to provide essential infrastructure assets to the Sellafield site.

Over the past nine years, the contract has played a significant role in supporting Sellafield’s mission, as well as delivering socio-economic benefits across Cumbria.

Simon Smith, managing director for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said: “Securing the third term and extension to the ISA contract, is another great opportunity for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure. Alongside our role on the programme and project partners partnership, which is also being delivered on the Sellafield site, we can continue to work with local organisations and the community to help build sustainable local economic growth. Creating greater opportunities for future generations as part of our commitment to being a responsible business.”

Arup’s digital leader for UK, India, Middle East and Africa, Jim Johnson, said: “We are committed to maintaining a positive presence wherever we operate – and as such we look forward to continuing to play a key role in supporting the local economy in the years to come. The extension of this contract is great news and testament to the hard work of all partners in this alliance.”

The contract is primarily aimed at utility assets, such as electricity, water supply and compressed air, bulk chemical storage and distribution, civil infrastructure, the site’s drainage networks and other facilities including roads, bridges, car parks and general buildings. It also includes some non-utility assets such as analytical services facilities, transport systems, flask maintenance plant and emergency management systems.